Guyanese are embarrassed by the behavior of some members of the government for their intransigent position on the vote count. President Granger is forced to endure reprimands from his Caricom colleagues because of the behavior of Mingo, Lowenfield and some other Gecom staff and ‘hardliners’ in his party opposed to democratic electoral outcomes. The President has had to face rare admonishments from friends and family members, the diplomatic community, Caricom PMs, and observers because of disgraceful public behavior of those seeking to perpetrate fraud to aid his re-election. Instead of helping the President to bring an end to the electoral fraud, they are embarrassing him by defending the fraud. The President must rebuke them and ignore their shenanigans in engaging in electoral malpractices to bring about a victory. And he must publicly support measures to ensure a fair tabulation of SOPs and or the ballots especially of Region 4 so that the right winner can be declared. Besides observers from Caricom that have been approved by Gecom, he must call for other international observers to monitor the recount so that questions will not be raised about the winner.
As a recap, the President phoned Caricom Chair Mia Mottley requesting assistance to bring a quick resolution to the electoral impasse. The Bajan PM brought a respected delegation of four other Caricom Prime Ministers to Guyana. The President and the Opposition Leader committed to Caricom to respect the ruling of the Chief Justice. The CJ ordered that the SOPS for region 4 be tabulated transparently in public view. Yet Mingo defied the court and proceeded to manufacture vote numbers. The President was embarrassed but remained silent to Mingo’s magical count. Lowenfield accepted the farce and prepared a declaration of the election results based on this fraud. The two were stopped in their tracks. The Caricom PMs were very upset rebuking the President for not honoring his commitment. Hardliners were blamed for derailing the process.
President Granger phoned Mia Mottley requesting further assistance for a recount of ballots. Caricom agreed and dispatched a team to assist with the verification process of the recount. The opposition leader and President signed the terms of the agreement for the recount. Gecom agreed with the recount with Caricom as observers. Then the President’s party (so called hardliners) put a wrench in the spokes of the wheel of the recount with an injunction. Caricom became further enraged with the shenanigans. Mottley was incensed using undiplomatic language about the behavior of the President’s party. Prime Minister Rowley of Trinidad also chimed in expressing his disappointment with those who opposed the recount. After the court’s ruling last Sunday that Gecom cannot be supervised by Caricom in a recount of ballots, Rowley clarified that Caricom’s role was never to supervise Gecom but to lend validity to the count. The terms of agreement stated that fact. Rowley was not pleased with the court’s language. Clearly, he is incensed with Gecom and the government’s handling of Caricom’s role making them look like little children. Hence, his rebuke of both! Caricom has been re-invited to observe the recount.
The President is applauded for agreeing to a recount of the ballots. The President has an opportunity to redeem his reputation among Caricom friends and rehabilitate his friendship by doing the right things – allow the recount to proceed without tampering of SOPs or ballots and accept the results. He would be regarded as a person whose words are equated to his honor. The President should break away from any influence of the hardliners of his party to support electoral fraud that would serve to further embarrass him.
