Official election results in limbo; APNU+AFC says PPPC can’t block declaration

Last Updated on Friday, 15 May 2015, 17:42 by GxMedia

APNU+AFC representatives LEAVING GECOM HEADQUARTERS AFTER A MEETING WITH THE COMMISSION: (Left to Right) Amna Ally, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, Joseph Harmon, Basil Williams and Raphael Trotman.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Friday said an official declaration of the winner of the May 11, 2015 general and  regional elections would not be made until after midday Saturday to allow parties to make objections but that has is being rejected by the coalition.

“Since the last declaration was made this morning, Friday May 15, 2015, the Commission has to wait until noon on Saturday May 16, 2015 before it can pronounce on a final declaration. This is the law.

The Commission is therefore asking the public to bear with it until midday of Saturday May 16, 2015, before it advises on the next stage of the declaration of results,” said GECOM in a statement. 

GECOM did not give a date when the declaration would be made.

Region Four’s Returning Officer only declared her results Friday morning, and the law requires her to give one day to await any requests for a recount. The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) has already filed requests to the Returning Officers to the other regions for a total recount, but at least two of them have turned them down.

The coalition urged GECOM not to be bound by the Saturday noon deadline because there has been a previous verification. “It is a waste of time,” he said. “They have had a verification process and there is no substantial or material difference in what they declared,” he said.

“We are interested in an as early a declaration as possible. It is our view that obstacles are being put in the way of the Commission being put in the way in making a declaration and that we are urging the commission to identify this as mischief and go ahead make that declaration,” said Working People’s Alliance Executive Member and APNU Co-Chairman, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.

APNU+AFC is also brushing aside any attempt by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) to go to the High Court to block the declaration of the results, saying that the only route is an Elections Petition afterwards.

Attorney-at-Law, Basil Williams told reporters Friday shortly after he and a team met with the commission that the law does not provide for the election to be challenged before a declaration is made. “There is no jurisdiction in the court to proceed with it. Anything touching the validity of the elections is through the Elections Petition,” he said. “All questions touching the validity and legality of a national election must come to the High Court in an election petition,”

The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC), which is closely aligned to the PPPC, has already congratulated and welcomed Retired Brigadier David Granger on his impending accession the presidency.

A number of government ministers have already conceded that the PPPC has lost the election and have packed up and left their offices.