The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), in calling out the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for what it described as a blatant attempt to deliberately distort the truth, maintained that 25 extra ballots were found in a Ballot Box from District Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) – an anomaly that cannot be ignored.
In a statement on Saturday, APNU+AFC Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon, in highlighting a plethora of irregularities, pointed to Ballot Box 7079, in which there were 352 Ballots issued on Elections Day but when the box was opened for the recount, 377 ballots were discovered. Hours later, the PPP/C issued a statement, contending that there were only 277 in the Ballot Box, which originated from Phillipai Primary School.
But APNU+AFC, in rebuffing the PPP/C, said the Opposition was being disingenuous about the situation.
“The same ballot box checklist for Phillipai Primary School Box 7079 which sets out the contents of Box, recorded PE6 -Total Ballot Counterfoils (ordinary) 227 and PE 4 Total Ballots unused (ordinary) 150 resulting in a total of 377 ballots in Box 7079. The first observation report from GECOM on Box 7079 contained the observation that “25 ordinary ballots were subsequently issued.” This was corrected in a second observation report, which stated “three hundred and fifty-two (352) ordinary ballots were issued but twenty five EXTRA were found in the ballot box,’” the APNU+AFC explained in a statement late Saturday night.
According to the APNU+AFC, the correction was made as no evidence was found for the legitimate issuance of the additional 25 ballots to the polling station.
“It is important to note that this correction was signed by all the contesting agents. Both Observation reports were signed by PPP/C Agent Gomati Kalicharran,” the ruling coalition noted.
It reminded that the authorized procedure by GECOM for the lawful issuance of additional ballots mandates that a record must be made in the Poll Book but no such entry was made or found in the Poll Book.
“The GECOM ballot box checklist and observation report for box 7079 confirm the statement made by Mr. Harmon. The obvious question is by what “credible” means did twenty five extra ballots get into ballot box 7079,” it said. To support its case, the APNU+AFC provided copies of ballot box check list, in addition to the firs and second observation reports.
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_06_01_2020