Dear Editor,
THE events taking place in Guyana after the general and regional elections on March 2, 2020 have laid bare the true nature and interests of all the true and self-proclaimed stakeholders in the country’s political process. We have the governing APNU+AFC, the Opposition PPP, foreign powers, ‘observers’, and the little rag-tag outfits whose scream for attention far outweigh any numerical support.
Everything was going fine, and the elections were given a clean bill of health until the Returning Officer of Region Four attempted to make a lawful declaration that would have tilted the balance in favor of APNU+AFC. That is when the grand conspirators went into motion. Suddenly the PPP had different numbers, and the US, Britain, Canada and EU found the process not credible. Their disgusting behaviour was plain for all to see, so I will not rehash those. They kept shifting the goalposts, and will only stop if the PPP is declared the winner. The ABCE countries are clearly working overtime to ensure a PPP victory; it is downright disrespectful to our sovereignty for them to dictate the conduct of our elections, instead of the Constitution and laws of Guyana.
First, they wanted all Statements of Poll to be tabulated, this was done; then they wanted them to be displayed on a projector; this was done. And even after that, they cried foul when the final declaration was made. The EU ‘Observers’ had the nerve to demand to see Statements of Poll, to obviously find a reason to discredit them. The Chief Justice clearly said that the only thing the Returning Officer of Region Four needed to do was either restart the tabulation process or continue from where he left off, using the STATEMENTS OF POLL! THIS WAS DONE in accordance with the laws of Guyana! For foreign powers to attempt to invent a process that they call ‘credible’ goes far beyond normal diplomatic behaviour in a host country.
It was very curious and intriguing that even before the western countries threatened Guyana with sanctions, Jagdeo was able to say that this will be done if President Granger was declared the winner. There was a video on social media that showed ‘observers’ from the Carter Center visiting Freedom House. The foreign ‘observers’ walked out on the counting process before it was completed. If you are there to observe, do you just leave when something does not go your way?
The western powers particularly, the PPP and United States have no moral authority to dictate to Guyana on the credibility of elections. In 1997, the Chairman of the Elections Commission secretly swore in Janet Jagan as President, even while votes were being verified and counted! The Marshall of the High Court served Janet Jagan, and the Chairman of the Commission, with an order to stop the swearing in, and Janet Jagan threw it over her shoulder! Where was the US then? And why were they not threatening sanctions? CARICOM and all the other ‘observers’ robed her and her illegal government with legitimacy. The PNC followed the legal procedure of an election petition, and the election was declared illegal! The United States had the most glaring of elections that lacked credibility. In 2000, the votes in Florida were clearly rigged in George Bush’s favour. Vice-President Al Gore got the Court to order a recount, and as the recount was going clearly in Gore’s favour, the Supreme Court, the majority of which was Republican and politically appointed. voted to stop the count and declare Bush the winner.
President Granger has acted like the true statesman and honest politician he is. He has said repeatedly that GECOM is an independent body, and must be allowed to do its work. He has never interfered with GECOM nor the court processes. The laws of Guyana must be respected and upheld, not twisted in favour of those who have their own interests. Imagine the hue and the cry if President Granger intervened and gave directions to GECOM.
The laws and constitutional institutions of Guyana must be upheld and respected. The other powers and ‘observers’ can go make their countries ‘Banana Republics’! Leave Guyana alone!
Regards,
Jerrick Rutherford
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_03_20_2020