–GECOM Commissioners say
THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday reportedly agreed that it would be prudent to have the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) involved in the planned National Recount, not to supervise as previously approved, but to validate the process.
On March 17, 2020, the Elections Commission approved a CARICOM- supervised recount, but the Court of Appeal on Sunday made it clear that it would be unconstitutional for CARICOM or any other authority, besides GECOM, to supervise any aspect of the Elections in Guyana. Prior to that ruling, GECOM on Friday agreed to proceed with the recount, but under the supervision of the Elections Commission.
‘A HIGH PREFERENCE’
At the conclusion of Monday’s meeting of the Commission, Government-nominated Commissioner, Vincent Alexander told reporters that the Elections Commission has a high preference for CARICOM’s involvement in the electoral process. “We have decided today that our preference, in terms of an external body to give some validation, is CARICOM,” Alexander told reporters.
According to him, the CARICOM arrangement would differ significantly from the observatory roles of Elections Observation Missions. “The others were never for validation; the others were observers. CARICOM came into the process with a particular role,” Alexander said.
He posited that it is likely that GECOM will soon extend a formal invitation to CARICOM.
Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj expressed similar expectations.
“I have no doubt that in very short order, an approach will be made to the CARICOM Secretary-General, with the view of reengaging that team. But I believe that we need to have some sort of finality, from our end, as to when we will begin, and so on, to pass that information,” Gunraj told reporters.
BEGS TO DIFFER
Gunraj, however, disagreed with the Appeal Court’s interpretation that the agreement between President Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo would have led to CARICOM supervising the recount. According to him, the word “supervised” was used loosely. “It was always that they will observe the process, in keeping with the laws and the Constitution of Guyana,” he emphasised.
And while Alexander did not address the issue of the presence of observers during the recount, Gunraj said that, in principle, the Commission agreed that observers would be present. According to Gunraj, the Commission also agreed to issue a statement, inviting observers to signal their willingness to participate in the process. This, he said, is important, given the prevailing challenges posed as a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
On the instruction of CARICOM Chairman, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, a high-level CARICOM team had arrived in Guyana on March 15 to supervise a planned national recounting of the ballots cast in the March 2 Elections, which had stemmed from an agreement with the President and Opposition Leader.
STUMBLING BLOCKS
However, on March 17, 2020, the high-level team withdrew from the process, after it was beset by several stumbling blocks. A private citizen, Ulita Moore, secured four injunctions from the High Court to block the recount, on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. Added to that, though President Granger and the Opposition Leader had signed an Aide Memoire, agreeing to the recount, CARICOM had requested a legal cover, in the form of a gazzetted order, however, Guyana’s Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Charles Fung-a-Fat advised against it. According to him, to do so would be to supersede electoral laws, and infringe on the rights of electors.
The independent high-level team was chaired by former Attorney-General and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Dominica, Ms. Francine Baron, and comprised former Minister of Finance of Grenada, Mr. Anthony Boatswain; Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government of UWI Ms. Cynthia Barrow-Giles; Chief Electoral Officer of Barbados Ms. Angela Taylor; and Chief Elections Officer of Trinidad and Tobago Ms. Fern Narcis-Scope.
Weighing in on the issue on Monday, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley, while expressing deep concern over the electoral challenges facing Guyana, said CARICOM stands committed to assist GECOM in the execution of the recount. He had formed part of a team of CARICOM Heads of Government that had met with President Granger and the Opposition Leader in the lead up to the agreement, after the tabulation of the votes in District Four had encountered challenges.
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_04_07_2020