Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), incumbent President David Granger says that reports of irregularities including unstamped ballots, deceased and migrant voters and missing poll books appear to have been committed intentionally, not accidentally, and demonstrate a pattern of manipulation of the electoral process.
His comments come a time when the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is deciding the fate of over 20 Statements of Recount (SORs) that were set aside after ancillary documents were not found in boxes containing ballots for several East Coast Demerara villages. This was unearthed during the recount of the votes cast in the March Elections.
The party leader reiterated that he would abide by the results produced during the recount process.
“I had committed, on 30th April, that I shall accept the declaration of the results by the Elections Commission, which will allow for a democratically elected government to be sworn-in to office. I am committed to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. I respect the integrity and autonomous nature of the Elections Commission. I will abide by the declarations of the Elections Commission as I have abided by the rulings of the Court,” he said.
The retired Brigadier in his statement to the nation today, applauded the diligence and persistence of the GECOM Chairperson Justice (Retired) Claudette Singh, whom, he says, continues to perform her duties under the Constitution “admirably”.
“She demonstrated her respect for the rulings of the Court and has facilitated CARICOM’s observation role in the recount process in order to assure everyone of the credibility of the elections,” Granger said.
He also asked that persons respect the Chair and the Commissioners, and to desist from “scurrility, vulgarity and character assassination”.
“The Commission must be allowed to perform its functions in accordance with the Constitution. I encourage everyone to await the completion of the four stages – the current recount, the reports of the Chief Elections Officer and the CARICOM observers, the review by the Elections Commission and the declaration of the final results by the Chairman of the Commission,” he said.
