Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo says that the way is now clear for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to urgently declare the winner of the March General and Regional Elections.
His statement comes on the heels of an unanimous Court of Appeal ruling which upheld the ruling of the Chief Justice (CJ) Roxanne George in the matter brought by government supporter, Misenga Jones, which sought to bar the Commission from making a declaration on the data emanated from the recount process.
Jones wants GECOM to use the 10 previous declarations that were made by the Returning Officers (ROs). These results were overtaken by Order 60, known as the Recount Order, that was issued by the Commission. The Commission is empowered by law to do so.
In dismissing the appeal, the Appeal Court endorsed the CJ in her ruling that the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), is a statutory officer, and is subject to the control and direction of the commission.
After the ruling, Jagdeo expressed his satisfaction with the development. He said that the Commission must now move to have the results declared soonest.
It has already been over five months since elections were held in Guyana. The electoral impasse is being regarded as a “political crisis” and continues to be the source of much local and international discourse.
