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FM
Former Member
A poll ‘burden’ for Guyana’s Opposition
Written by Rickey Singh
Saturday, 21 January 2012 20:54
What, if any, scale of claimed ‘vote-tampering’
Analysis by Rickey Singh:

IN HIS haste to score a political point, the Opposition Leader in Guyana’s new Parliament, David Granger, may have taken on an unnecessary burden that could embarrass him and the party he leads amid increasing allusions/speculations of a snap general election within 15 months, if not earlier.

That ‘burden’ of Granger, the 65-year-old retired Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), who currently heads what is known as A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), relates to a statement last weekend and reported by the media.

He said that “there was no MASSIVE (my emphasis) tampering of votes” at the November 28, 2011 elections that had resulted in the incumbent PPP/C retaining the government under an executive presidency, but with loss of control, by one seat, of the 65-member National Assembly and consequently, a minority administration.

Well, to follow the expressed contention of the APNU’s chairman, he now seems to have a moral and political obligation to explain, not just for the benefit of his own supporters but the Guyanese electorate as a whole, what percentage, if any, of the officially declared results by the independent, bi-partisan Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) may have been tampered with, presumably to the disadvantage of the coalition of parties he heads.

This would be quite a reasonable approach, given the vehemence with which Granger has been passionately demanding from GECOM verification of ‘statements of poll (SOPs)’. These, incidentally, were provided to all three contesting parties -- the incumbent PPP; APNU and its unofficial ally,the Alliance For Change (AFC) -- within a fortnight of the election, and long before APNU was ready to declare its list of nominees for parliament.

GECOM, with varying changes in personnel, has been conducting national elections since its establishment for the 1992 -- the year when electoral democracy was finally restored in Guyana after 24 years of institutionalised and confirmed rigged elections under the People’s National Congress (now the overwhelming, dominant component in APNU).

GECOM’S Stance:
All those elections were declared “free and fair” by independent national, regional and international observer missions, as happened for last November’s poll with the PNC-dominated APNU as a first-time contestant.

GECOM’s chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, had explained to the media that while the Commission was under no constitutional obligation to deliver ‘statements of poll’ to any of the contesting parties, it had done so to avoid unnecessary allegations, and consistent with its own commitment to transparency in the electoral process.

The official results, which came within the third day of the election after previously recurred logistical problems in transportation of sealed ballot boxes from far-flung regions, were:
*The PPP--32 of the 65 seats with 166,340 votes, or 48.62 percent; APNU--26 seats based on 139,678 votes, or 40.83 percent; and the AFC—seven seats from 35,333 votes, or 10,33 percent.

When the 10th Guyana Parliament met last week for the swearing in of the new MPs and election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, APNU and the AFC opted to depart from established conventions by ignoring a tripartite approach, favoured by the PPP, and chose to take both posts from within their own ranks. The AFC leader was chosen as Speaker, with APNU’s Deborah Backer as Deputy Speaker.

Then came last weekend’s media disclosure of the abandonment by APNU of its originally sought-after verification process of statements of poll. “We do not expect,” he said (as reported by the Online news agency, Demerarawaves) that the verification will reverse the major outcomes of the 2011 elections, but we will still need to get it right…” Further, Granger disclosed he did not “contemplate that the results would be challenged in the court.”

Of course, you have to be in possession of evidence of wrongdoing to initiate court proceedings. In the circumstances, therefore, the APNU chairman should enlighten the Guyanese electorate under what circumstances he and his party had discovered there was “no massive tampering of votes.”

Two views
Would it be correct to assume, for instance, that while APNU as well as its AFC ally knew that there were no “rigging” of the election results, it had, nevertheless, expediently opted to keep the “political pot” boiling with such an allegation that helped fuelled anti-PPP government street protests and sustain falsehood about being robbed of a “victory” it had promised supporters during the campaign?
Two views could perhaps be applied to the APNU chairman’s scuttling of earlier unsubstantiated claims of implicit electoral improprieties that were never presented for public assessment:

First, that he and his party apparently did not come up with EVIDENCE to support claims of vote-tampering that could have embarrassed the GEGOM and influence proceedings in a court to declare the results null and void.
Or, secondly, that upon sober reflection that favoured political maturity over irresponsible politicking to fuel disturbances that can hurt the national interest of Guyana, the APNU chairman settled for closure of a scenario of his own creation with the declaration of “no massive tampering of votes.”

Knowing Granger as I did, long before his active involvement in electioneering politics, I prefer to believe that political maturity triumphed sterile negative politics, and that even amid prevailing speculations of impending fiscal/economic problems from lack of government/opposition cooperation, it is better to hope than despair -- in Guyana’s interest.
Nevertheless, would the Guyanese electorate be enlightened by APNU about the difference between “no massive”, “small”, or whatever scale of vote-tampering may have occurred at the November 28 poll -- as originally alleged and voiced by its chairman, David Granger, the new Opposition Leader?

Source: Chronicle

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Poor Rickey. He has lost control of his senses. Instead of working on some constructive ideas and suggestion on how to improve the lives of the voters, Rickey crying his eyes out about not winning an outright and decisive PPP victory.
Anyone else get the idea that Rickey is a failed politician who still believes that Jagan will rise from the dead?
Mr.T
Let me explain it to you DUNCE, Ricky is correctly stating that Granger is a immoral, shameless ans Scampish IDIOT. He let loose his DOGS in GT claiming FRAUD but now when he got the evidence he putting his mouth in his ASS. GECOM IS AN INDEPENDENT AND PROFESSIONAL ORG!!!
quote:
Originally posted by Mr.T:
Poor Rickey. He has lost control of his senses. Instead of working on some constructive ideas and suggestion on how to improve the lives of the voters, Rickey crying his eyes out about not winning an outright and decisive PPP victory.
Anyone else get the idea that Rickey is a failed politician who still believes that Jagan will rise from the dead?
Nehru
Instead of saying that many AfroGuyanese were suspcious of the results, because of the long delay, and Granger had to pacify them by getting to the bottom of this...now able to tell them that having looked at the results they are fine Rickey goes on this rage.

Rickey Guyanese voted AGAINST the PPP. Accept it and move on. The PPP will get nothing done without the support of one or both of the oppoistion parties. They need to learn how to make nice instead of continuing to make mischief.

Rickey just be glad that Granger was able to keep a lid on the frustrations so that we didnt get a repeat of 1997 and 2001.
FM
Carib is bitter these days because his beloved PNC have now been exposed as trouble makers.

They rejected Moses because he is Indian and now with the AFC in disarray, the PPP stands to benefit from critical mistakes made by his beloved PNC.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by caribj:

Rickey just be glad that Granger was able to keep a lid on the frustrations so that we didnt get a repeat of 1997 and 2001.


Carib has now exposed himself as a PNC thug. Read his quote above. Guys like Carib support violence against Indo Guyanese and their businesses.

Hay Carib, you are an Indo Guyanese hater and you now exposed your foul intentions for all to see.

You are a PNC thug. Period.
FM
Rickey must be grateful that ANIMALS like yourself did come out of your cages but were not destructive??????????
quote:
Originally posted by caribj:
Instead of saying that many AfroGuyanese were suspcious of the results, because of the long delay, and Granger had to pacify them by getting to the bottom of this...now able to tell them that having looked at the results they are fine Rickey goes on this rage.

Rickey Guyanese voted AGAINST the PPP. Accept it and move on. The PPP will get nothing done without the support of one or both of the oppoistion parties. They need to learn how to make nice instead of continuing to make mischief.

Rickey just be glad that Granger was able to keep a lid on the frustrations so that we didnt get a repeat of 1997 and 2001.
Nehru
quote:
Originally posted by Nehru:
Rickey must be grateful that ANIMALS like yourself did come out of your cages but were not destructive??????????
quote:
Originally posted by caribj:
Instead of saying that many AfroGuyanese were suspcious of the results, because of the long delay, and Granger had to pacify them by getting to the bottom of this...now able to tell them that having looked at the results they are fine Rickey goes on this rage.

Rickey Guyanese voted AGAINST the PPP. Accept it and move on. The PPP will get nothing done without the support of one or both of the oppoistion parties. They need to learn how to make nice instead of continuing to make mischief.

Rickey just be glad that Granger was able to keep a lid on the frustrations so that we didnt get a repeat of 1997 and 2001.


Carib is worse than an Animal. He is a Indo Guyanese hater. it was just a matter of time before he let it out.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by yuji22:
Carib is worse than an Animal. He is a Indo Guyanese hater. it was just a matter of time before he let it out.


Look at where we are. You say blacks are violent, lazy and criminal. I object and you call me racist for saying that.

Hmmmmm.

Now I suggest to you that you are sad that Granger set out from day one to contain any potential violence whcih we saw in 1997 and 2001. Indeed you would have wanted such violence so you could then scream all you racist rant against blacks.

You and the rest of your black hating Indofascist PPP tried hard to provoke violence by attacking innocent protestors and yet no violence.......it really must frustrate you.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by yuji22:
the PPP stands to benefit from critical mistakes made by his beloved PNC.


Like how they were going to win with a 60% and beat the PNC in Linden? With legions of blacks flocking to Ramotar?


Hmmmm. You all need to stop forecasting because you look so stupid when you do.
FM
Carib, you racist PNC pig. I never predicted 60 percent. You are using your voodoo numbers again.

You and your beloved racist PNC will never govern.

Your beloved PNC rejected Moses because he was an Indian now you are in a mess with your former PNC buddy Trotman and his AFC, your hate for Indo Guyanese has started to show.
FM

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