President David Granger must instruct Gecom (Chair Claudette Singh and Region 4 returning Officer Mortimer Mingo to do a real count of the SOPs and declare the outcome of the elections. There is no room left for cheating. All attempts at electoral fraud were exposed. Everyone knows the outcome of the elections. It is now time for concession so that country can move on.
Guyana has been at a standstill since the March 2 general elections. There have been reports of attempted fraud; these were exposed. The international community, domestic and foreign observers, diplomats, regional and international organizations, NGOs, religious bodies, chambers of commerce, business community, and eminent persons, among other entities, have all condemned the attempted electoral fraud that emanated from the tabulation of SOPs from region 4. The elections commission in Guyana (Gecom) will not be able to continue its path of perpetrating electoral fraud in Guyana. The world will not accept any outcome that does not reflect the will of the voters as found on the authentic SOPs. Gecom must do the right and honorable thing and declare the real winner of the elections. It is not brain since; it is basic math additions. Recount the real, authentic SOPs for Region 4 and declare the winner irrespective of which party wins. It is the decent thing to do. Failure to do so will result in very serious consequences for the riggers and the country at large, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last Tuesday.
It is time, therefore, to “un-rig” the count of the Statements of Poll (SOPs) of Region 4 as carried out by Mortimer Mingo and certain staff at Gecom. Three times, Mingo announced counts and each time the number was different. Those counts, in and of themselves, raised suspicions about his announced results. Moral decency requires that people come out against this fraud. Mingo must not do the bidding of his masters (regardless who they are). An election was held. There can be only one winner – the party with the most votes. There was a winner as seen from the counts of the authentic SOPs – these numbers can’t change from fraud. Mingo’s fraudulent numbers were rejected by observers and diplomats who reported to their governments exactly what took place.
President Granger, widely respected for his honesty, must insist Mingo and Gecom do the right thing by announcing the real election result to save himself, his coalition, and Guyana from serious consequences as announced by Secretary of State Pompeo. Those close to the President must advise him accordingly to instruct Mingo to release the numbers of the real SOPs and accept the real outcome of the elections. The Secretary means business; America is on the side of democracy; it has not and will not close its eyes to electoral fraud. Strong American response is coming.
The real vote count is required. Regardless of who wins, let the country breathe a sigh of relief from stagnancy. A real count is urgently needed to save Guyana ‘face’ and prevent sanctions that will hurt everyone. Pompeo will levy serious consequences on those engaged in as well as the beneficiaries of rigging. Anyone sworn in from a fraudulent count of votes or appointed by such a leader will face sanctions. Pompeo says such a government will be illegitimate. Not only will the riggers and the staff at Gecom be targeted, so will those who are appointed by an illegal government. Once America initiates actions, other nations generally follow. The officers, commissioners, Chair, staff of Gecom, Ministers, heads of agencies, Police Commissioner and their deputies and officers involved in the rigging, etc., will be in serious trouble if Gecom doesn’t act according to law and count every ballot and SOP.
Usually, when the US issues a warning of serious consequences, visas (not only for the culprits but their families also) will be cancelled. Assets will confiscated and or frozen and revenues due Guyana kept in escrow. Tourist visas for other Guyanese may also be suspended. Foreign aid will be cut. All pending agreements with Guyana will be suspended. Furthermore, as happened in Venezuela, if an illegal government is sworn in, there can be a parallel government recognized by Western powers or a government in exile like the PLO can be formed. Why is Gecom putting the Guyanese nation through this stress? Why not simply do the honorable thing? That injunction to be heard on Friday will not save Guyana from sanctions. Only Gecom can save Guyana right now. Count the SOPs or recount all the legitimate votes! It is the right thing. It is the honorable thing!
The SOPs count by M. Mingo was not and is never going to be accepted by Guyanese and the world community. His behavior goes against democratic principles. The international observers, diplomats and their home states have pronounced on Mingo’s rigging count. It is a high form of perfidy and shamelessness to attempt to pass this fraud right in front of credible onlookers. The United States will never accept it and the nation will pay for it. The country must brace for sanctions if Gecom does not reverse course.
Gecom officials are urged to please redeem their reputation by un-rigging the count. President Granger must tell Gecom riggers to stop their shenanigans that he does not wish to be a part of rigging. He must instruct the staff to a proper, correct count of the SOPs and declare the real winner.
