Georgetown: Following Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield’s report to the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Claudette Singh, President David Granger on Sunday said he did a “remarkably well” job of running the elections.
The CEO’s report mirrors allegation made by the Coalition APNU+AFC which is aimed at discrediting the electoral process and results. The entire process cost Guyana GUY $8 billion.
“Mr. Lowenfield did remarkably well under pressure with limited resources and circumstances,” Granger told a selected group of reporters he chose to invite for remarks at State House.
Lowenfield Saturday presented a report showing the correct figures of the recount, which show the PPP winning by over 15, 000 votes, but he included a report which contained the unsubstantiated allegations made by APNU+AFC during the national vote recount.
Of the nine parties which contested the elections, it was only APNU+AFC that raised what the other eight parties said were unproven allegations.
Further, when asked if the CEO should resign after admittedly accepting in his report that he did a poor job since allege claims of widespread fraud occurred on Election Day in his report, President Granger said he sees no reason why the CEO should resign.
“I think under the circumstances he did what he was empowered to do under the law, what he is capable to do with the resources.” The President said.
He explained that one needed to look at the entire process from everything that occurred during 2019, “Starting with the challenge in the courts from the 4th January when the question arose about the legality of the lawfulness of Mr. Persaud sitting in the National Assembly.”
President Granger clarified that Mr. Lowenfield is not in control of the courts and he could not accelerate that process.
He recounted writing to the then Chairperson of GECOM (retd) Justice James Patterson calling on him to hold the elections at the earliest credible time.
“These have been the real factors that have delayed the elections and I believe that when Justice Singh got there in July 2019, she did what was feasible to have elections in the earliest possible time… Because of the groundwork which had been laid by Mr. Lowenfield and the other officials in the election commission, in the secretariat we were able to have the elections on March 2.” President Granger added.
He reiterated that the 2nd March 2020 General and Regional Elections were possible because of Lowenfield and GECOM staff.
“Don’t forget that is she (GECOM Chair) who wrote me on the September 19 stating that the election could not be held. I don’t think Lowenfield was holding back the commission before the end of February.”
Reminding that it was agreed by all parties that March 2 was the earliest possible date to hold the elections the President made clear that “Mr. Lowenfield is not to be blamed for that, I wouldn’t ask for his resignation and I wouldn’t even expect him to offer it.”
In the meantime, speaking of attacks in the media, The President said those were unjustified.
“Many of us have been attacked in the media; the Chairman has been attacked, I have been attacked, Mr. Harmon, Mr. Lowenfield have also been attacked. I don’t believe the attacks were justified and, in my view, Mr. Lowenfield did remarkably well under pressure with limited resources and circumstances,” he said.
While confirming that the PPP/C won the majority of votes at the March 2nd polls, the Chief Election Officer (CEO) report stated that the results of the process that he oversaw do not meet the standard of fair and credible elections.
Lowenfield’s summation for each Electoral District contends that identified anomalies and instances of voter impersonation do not appear to satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness, and compliance with provisions of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act.
“Consequently, on the basis of the votes counted and the information furnished from the recount, it cannot be ascertained that the results… meet the standard of fair and credible elections,” he concluded in each summary of the observation reports for every District.
Of the 460,352 valid votes cast, the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has won 217,920 and the People’s Progressive Party 233,336. The three ‘joinder’ parties- A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and The New Movement (TNM) got a total of 5,214 votes.
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