Recount numbers must approximate numbers from original SOPs

Apr 17, 2020 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

Reporting on the GECOM Chair, a news outlet said, “Importantly, she also sought to dispel any worry that the previous declarations will be used. The retired Justice noted that once a decision is taken to do a recount, the previous declarations are no longer relevant. When we would have gone into the recount stage, we will no longer come back to those declarations,” she said.
I have a concern with this statement by the Chair as any numbers from the recount must match closely with the numbers on the original statements of poll that the PPP and media have released, but the PNC refused to release. On election night, polling officials and agents were very meticulous in making sure the counts were accurate and they were signed by the polling agents present. This is borne out in the fact that there were no objections or problems with the counts in nine regions and 421 boxes in Region 4, until when Apostle Mingo introduced the “rigsheet.” So, the original SOPs are as valid and accurate as can be. Vastly different numbers in the recount would be evidence of rigging. You can bet your bottom dollar that once the recount is completed and it is verified that the PPP is the winner, that a vexatious, frivolous, spurious lawsuit would be filed by the PNC, to further drag out the process and cling on to power. Burnham’s rigging virus has no cure.
I don’t know why the opposition parties agreed to a total recount as that seems totally unnecessary, and presents an opportunity for centralized rigging and more GECOM/PNC mischief. The only problem in the count was Mingo’s abortion of the Region 4 tallies using the SOPs and substituting a “rigsheet.” The Chief Justice ordered GECOM to complete the Region 4 count using the SOPs, and that was never done. The PPP should activate the contempt actions. A total recount seems so unnecessary and allows for the illegal PNC dictatorship to squat in power and continue misusing state resources.
Already the government has contracted with a US company to do PR work for the PNC.
They are using propaganda to say they are pro-USA and better than the PPP, and despite cussing out the international community to butt out of Guyana’s affairs, they are asking the international community to side with them and look the other way as they rig against the PPP. Essentially they are admitting they lost but want international help to stay in power, notwithstanding the results showing the PPP won. This latest action shows the PNC is up to no good and will not relinquish power, unless there is mass protest, agitation, and sanctions. Someone needs to file a lawsuit against that rape of the treasury and against former Ministers pretending to be Ministers still. GECOM better make sure there are no tricks that would cause the recount number to be vastly different from the original numbers on the original SOPs in possession of all parties, the media, foreign embassies and organizations who were provided with copies, and by private individuals who took pictures of the SOPs posted at the polling places.
Current indications are that GECOM is still carrying water for the PNC as evidenced by Lowenfield’s 156-day proposal for the recount. I don’t know why the Guyanese nation deserves such torture and cruelty from the Lowenfield/Alexander duo, and the Chair does nothing. GECOM is doing everything and more to make sure we do not have a fair credible count with the utmost speed, as a constitutional deadline for the new parliament to be sworn in looms upon us. And the Chair does nothing! The longer this process drags out, the war of attrition increases the PNC’s chance of pulling off a successful rig. All the contesting parties must hold a joint position and fight for many observers, live media coverage, and open transparency. We must watch them as a hawk, or as someone said like “four eye” fishes. They are doing the recount kicking and screaming and both GECOM and the PNC are up to no good.
If Lowenfield is not bright enough or unable to come up with a plan using many counting stations and completion in a short time, the Chair needs to replace him and assign the task to another. How can he keep showing up at meetings without revised plans and he is still employed. The Convention Center has lots of room space and hallway space to set up multiple stations. Or the chair can adopt Mr. Gunraj’s plan or that of the Guyana Budget & Policy Institute. There is simply no trust in GECOM being honest brokers and the PNC having any honesty, integrity or decency. We all need to be as vigilant as ever! Madame Chair, do your job!

Jerry Singh

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