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US calls on GECOM to declare results based on recounted votes

 

Acting Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Burea.u of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak

United States (US) Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak on Wednesday called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to declare results of the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections based on the national vote recount.

“The Caribbean Court has ruled. It’s time for GECOM to declare the winner of Guyana’s election based on the national vote recount. The will of Guyana’s voters cannot be ignored,” Kozak said hours after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) threw out the Guyana Court of Appeal’s ruling that “more votes cast” means “more valid votes cast”.

Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo has already said the Department of State has been instructed to take action ‘to ensure that those who undermine Guyana’s democracy are held accountable.”

If used, the recounted votes will give the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) a victory, but if Lowenfield’s latest report, in which he excluded 115,000 votes, is accepted by GECOM, A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) will be declared the winner

The CCJ, which is Guyana’s final appellate court,  said the features of “valid” votes are clearly spelt out in the Representation of the People Act.

Kozak’s renewed call for the recounted valid votes totalling 460,352 should be used came against the background of Political Scientists, Dr. David Hinds and Mr. Peter Wickham earlier Wednesday said that with the CCJ referring the decision back to GECOM, the Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield could very well refuse to submit a report based on the regional court’s ruling or even resubmit his now invalidated report.

The CCJ also Wednesday unanimously decided to invalidate Lowenfield’s report in the same breath as it overturned the Guyana Court of Appeal’s decision because it had no jurisdiction to invoke Article 177(4) which had to do with the qualification of a sitting president or the interpretation of the constitution. “That decision was made without jurisdiction on the part of that Court. It was therefore not final and is of no effect. This Court is entitled and required to declare it invalid. Logically, the report of 23 June issued by the CEO which was based on it is similarly of no effect,” the CCJ said.

The CCJ also frowned on the Guyana Court of Appeal’s decision to insert the word “valid”  unnecessarily as that impliedly allowed the Chief Election Officer to “engage unilaterally in an unlawful validation exercise” which trespassed on the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court to settle electoral disputes after a winner is declared.  “It was inconsistent with the constitutional framework for the CEO or GECOM to disenfranchise thousands of electors in a seemingly non transparent and arbitrary manner, without the due processes established in Article 163 and the Validation Act,” the CCJ said.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Kozak keeps warning the APNU and the AFC.  We are fighting to save our democracy and the world is on our side. Those who continue to believe the lies of David Granger will be disappointed.  Time for members of APNU/AFC to jump ship and leave Granger alone.  He has overspent his time in office.  He must go.

Billy Ram Balgobin

Kozak keeps warning the APNU and the AFC.  We are fighting to save our democracy and the world is on our side. Those who continue to believe the lies of David Granger will be disappointed.  Time for members of APNU/AFC to jump ship and leave Granger alone.  He has overspent his time in office.  He must go.

Granger has a solid backing of supporters. If they believe him or not , one thing is certain. They are not going to leave his side. At all!  Saw a FB video of him yesterday. Things are going to get real rough. Just my prediction.

Sheik101

Absolutely Sheik. That is why an independent sovereign country for East Indians of Guyana, Douglas who love their East Indian heritage and allies of the East Indian people of Guyana is the only workable solution. Anything else and East Indian poor people who don't have access to private armed security or guns and ammo or explosives will pay a heavy price.

Prashad
Last edited by Prashad

I am tired of hearing U.S. say this and that for months. The bottom line is APNU/AFC has lost the 2020 election and Granger is not giving up. Today again the GECOM meeting is postponed. After the government commissioners study the CCJ rulings, they wouldn't go back to GECOM and say they understood it perfectly. They will ask for clarity tomorrow. They would only understand it if the ruling was in their favor. This is the beginning of phase three of the declaration delays. 

FM
Last edited by Former Member

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