LEADER of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has stated that his party, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), is “extremely pleased” with the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJs) Wednesday decision and expects that the elections commission will act on the basis of the “clear guidance” of the court.
On Wednesday, in assuming jurisdiction to hear an application filed by the PPP/C, the CCJ set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal on the interpretation of the constitution and invalidated the elections report submitted by the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield.
Subsequently, providing his reaction on the matter via video, the opposition leader said that his party had held the belief from the beginning that the decision of the Appellate Court was “perverse” and that the court lacked jurisdiction.
He said that the PPP/C is also pleased that the CEO’s previous report has been set aside and a new report is now required.
“We were right and, today, we’re vindicated in the sense that the Court of Appeal acted in excess of its jurisdiction. So, we’re extremely pleased that the court [has] set aside the Court of Appeal’s decision…we’re extremely pleased that they also set aside Lowenfield’s report,” he said.
The opposition leader now expects that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will prepare its report based on valid votes as determined by the Representation of the People Act, a process he said was outlined by the CCJ.
“Once you listen to [the CCJ’s ruling], you would recognise how strong this ruling has been and the clear guidance that it has set out to GECOM and to the chief elections officer as to how they must act,” Jagdeo said, adding:
“In the summary [of the CCJ ruling] it said that he [Lowenfield] needs to prepare the report in accordance with the instruction given to him by the Chair of GECOM, which is to use the recount data which shows a PPP victory.”
He also put forward that the APNU+AFC must deal with its allegations of electoral fraud through the means of an elections petition.
Meanwhile, former Attorney General Anil Nandall told the Newsroom that he is not surprised by the ruling of the CCJ and looks forward to a report from the elections commission which will lead to a new President being sworn in.
“We always knew that the Caribbean Court of Justice had jurisdiction in this particular case, because you simply can’t make up a case, try to fit it within a jurisdiction in a specialised court like the Court of Appeal, and expect it not to be appealable when the decision of the Court of Appeal ends up being a perversity,” he said.
On Wednesday, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj also gave comments on the matter on his Facebook page. He stated that, according to the court, GECOM must now direct the CEO to provide a new report to the commission for its deliberation and declaration of the results.
Gunraj noted then that commissioners had already been formally invited by the GECOM Chair Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh to attend a meeting at the commission today at 13:30hrs.
“I expect, in short order, the chief elections officer will…provide that report in short order to the commission and the steps, here from, are very clear, pursuant to the ruling of the CCJ this afternoon. We must receive that report which is based on the results generated by the recount exercise and a declaration must flow naturally and speedily.”
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_07_09_2020