The Government has expressed dismay at the editorial in th Saturday edition of the Stabroek News under the headline ‘Mr. Granger and the elections’.
“The editorial is pointedly misleading. It is estranged from the facts and riddled with reckless and outlandish conclusions which have no basis in reality.”
Quoting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, the Department of Public Information said that she ordered in her ruling of Thursday 11th March, 2020: “[I]t would be for the Returning Officer and the Deputy Returning Officer to decide whether to restart or continue the process.
“It is their decision to make. And I would also repeat here it would be their decision to decide what is the best method for tabulating the Statements of Poll.”
The Chief Justice could not have been more explicit in her ruling. DPI contended that Stabroek News appeared to have skirted over this “most carefully precise declaration by the Chief Justice.”
“What Stabroek News did not mention in its clearly biased and malicious editorial was that the revered independence of the Guyana Elections Commission is sacrosanct and rigidly and robustly safeguarded by the Constitution.
“It is insulated from political influence, instruction and interference. The Constitution at Article 62 charges the Commission with the conduct of elections. “Elections shall be independently supervised by the Elections Commission in accordance with the provisions of Article 162.”
The Commission must be allowed and was allowed by President David Granger and the Executive to function independently, DPI said. President Granger did not seek to influence, interfere or instruct in any form whatsoever. To do so would have been a breach of the Constitution, it added.
“GECOM is an independent constitutional agency over which I and the Executive have no control. I assure you, that as President, I cannot, did not and will not interfere in the work of GECOM.”
Due process and the rule of law and all constitutional provisions were dutifully adhered to. Where the court ruled, such rulings were scrupulously followed without deviation or delay.
Stabroek News’ editorial, according to DPI, seeks to enhance the carefully crafted opposition narrative of foul play when in fact none such exists.
“All indications are that it is they, the opposition, in concert with their foreign agents who have been busy concocting and executing schemes designed to delay the electoral process and derail democracy in Guyana.”
