Guyana President Proclaims That His Government Will Accept GECOM’s Final Declaration

GEORGETOWN, Guyana May 18, 2020 (CMC) — President, David Granger, yesterday morning, proclaimed that his government stands ready to accept the final declarations of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), after the national recount of the March 2 General and Regional Elections is completed.

The national recount is currently ongoing at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) and is being overlooked by a three-member, high-level team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The team has been asked to be a “third party” in the recount process, which is seeking to determine the credibility of the March 2, polls.

Speaking with journalists, following his visit to the recount centre, President Granger reiterated that GECOM is a constitutional body, and just as he and his government have done in the past, he will accept the decisions of the commission.

“The elections commission is a constitutional authority, and I am doing everything possible to ensure that constitutional authority discharges its functions. I cannot speculate about an outcome, of which I am not aware. The commission has the authority and I cannot envisage a situation, in which I could counter or ignore the rulings of GECOM,” he asserted.

From left to right: Joseph Harmon, Chief Executive Officer of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF); Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission GECOM) (retd) Justice Claudette Singh; President Granger; and Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, during the Head of State’s visit to the recount centre. Photo credit: DPI.

“As President of Guyana and leader of the government, it is my policy that any declaration, coming from the Chairman of GECOM, will be accepted by the government of Guyana.

“I have always said that I will await the declaration of GECOM. Whatever declaration is made by the Chairman of the elections commission, will be regarded as legitimate,” he said.

President Granger recalled that on March 2, the voting process was “well-managed and orderly”, however, determining the credibility of the results of those elections remains the job of the election commission.

“It would be premature for anybody to say whether the results of the 2^nd of March were credible. That is what we are here to determine. That’s why a recount was necessary, to determine the credibility of the elections,” he added.