…Lowenfield says in report;
…Region Six sees highest percentage
OVER 265,000 ballots cast in the General and Regional Elections have been impacted by anomalies, irregularities and voter impersonation with Region Six seeing the highest percentage of ballots being affected.
These are the findings coming out of the report of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield from the recently concluded national recount of votes cast in the March 2, elections.
The information was included in a summary of the numerous observation reports coming out of the process which has led the CEO to note in his report that the elections did not satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness and compliance with the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act.
GLARING ISSUES
In Region One (Barima-Waini), where there were 99 ballot boxes counted, the total number of affected ballots stands at 4,194 or 34. 6 per cent of the ballots cast in that region.
In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), where there were 135 ballot boxes, 19,913 votes were affected, representing 74.8 per cent of all ballots cast.
For Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) where 355 ballot boxes were present, there were 49,286 or 67.9 per cent of ballots affected.
Home to the highest number of ballot boxes , 879, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) saw 112,039 or 55.4 per cent of ballots cast being affected.
Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) saw 16,737 or 50.5 per cent of its ballots cast being affected out of 158 ballot boxes.
In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) where there were 378 ballot boxes, there were a total of 49,952 or 77.4 per cent of ballots cast affected, the highest percentage witnessed.
In Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) with only 82 ballot boxes, there were 6,763 or 70.5 per cent of ballots cast affected.
Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo)) had only 55 ballot boxes and saw 2,507 or 53.7 per cent of ballots being affected.
In Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) with 125 ballot boxes, had 3,873 or 17.per cent of ballots cast affected.
LOWENFIELD ACTED LAWFULLY
Although the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has accused Lowenfield of violating the national recount order in his report, the APNU+AFC has pointed to the Constitution to show that the CEO acted within the law.
In a media release on Saturday, the PPP/C stated that Lowenfield has no authority to offer a view, opinion or judgement of any type, either in the
Observation Report or the matrices to be tabulated.
They quoted that section of the Order which states: “The matrices for the recount of the 10 electoral districts shall then be tabulated by the chief elections officer and be submitted in a report, together with a summary of the observation reports for each district to the commission on or before the 13th day of June 2020.”
The PPP/C therefore accused the CEO of “arrogating unto himself
the role of an investigator, judge and executioner” in stating that the elections did not satisfy the necessary criteria.
However, the APNU+AFC pointed out that the Representation of the People Act is clear in Part X1, which addresses the ascertainment of election results while Article 96 of the Constitution empowers the CEO to “calculate the total valid votes of electors cast and thereupon ascertain the results.”.
“It is reprehensible and appalling that the PPP irresponsibly continues its campaign to malign Mr. Lowenfield who has acted within the ambit of the law as he is required to do, and is in strict compliance with the Gazetted Order. The CEO in his report, as he is obliged to do, considered the numerous fraudulent discoveries contained in the painstakingly detailed Observation Reports as outlined by the Gazetted Order, which was agreed by both the APNU+AFC coalition and the opposition PPP,” the APNU+AFC stated in a release.
On Sunday at a press conference held with the media at State House, the President said that he too has heard of the criticisms against the CEO which he believes are unfounded.
“My understanding is that he has not exceeded his authority; he has not done anything abnormal or unlawful…I accept that what I read about what he wrote indicates that there has been widespread abuse and this is what APNU+AFC has complained about publicly over the last 100 days,” he said
He also stated that this is not Lowenfield’s final report as once the report is deliberated upon, it will determine whether he should use the data to compile a final report for the possible declaration of results by GECOM Chairperson Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh.
The President said that he does not know what steps the commission will take next, following its deliberations, but expects that all forthcoming actions will be within the confines of the law.
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_06_15_2020