11th July, 2020. Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
The Organization of American States in a strongly worded Press Release dated July 10th, 2020, condemned the actions of Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Keith Lowenfield and suggested that GECOM remove him from this and all future electoral processes since he clearly shows partisan bias.
As already suggested in our April 15 press statement on the national recount, GECOM should exclude from the current electoral process, and indeed from all future electoral processes, those persons whose actions display clear partisan bias, and who apply this bias unreservedly in hindering the natural unfolding of the democratic process in Guyana.
organization of american states. july 10, 2020
After the conclusion of the tiring, one-month + long recount exercise which was certified by CARICOM and which shows a clear PPP/C win by over 15,000 votes, the APNU/AFC changed their narrative to flawed electoral process. However, in keeping with the standards of democracy and the rule of law, the GECOM chair, Ms. Claudette Singh, asked Mr. Lowenfield to submit his report based on the CARICOM certified recount results. But Mr. Lowenfield refused to follow the instructions, instead autonomously removing over 115,000 valid votes which led to a court case at the Caribbean Court of Justice.
The CCJ subsequently ruled that a winner must be declared from the recount results. Ms. Singh once against asked Mr. Lowenfield to submit his report in keeping with the recount results. However, clearly standing in the way of a democratic transition of government, Mr. Lowenfield once again submitted a fraudulent report which shows an APNU/AFC victory.
The OAS notes that one of the principal obstacles to completing Guyana’s current electoral process is a person whose duty it is to defend Guyana’s democracy through ensuring respect for the results of elections.
organization of American states – July 10, 2020
Statement by the OAS: July 10, 2020
In our most recent press statement, on June 23, 2020, the OAS encouraged the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to move forward in concluding Guyana’s electoral process, based on the results of the national recount, and in accordance with the will of the majority of the electorate.
The decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice on July 8, 2020 confirmed that GECOM has the final authority to declare these elections and that the Chief Elections Officer is required to comply with the Commission’s directives in this regard. The OAS notes and commends the instructions of the GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d), issued on July 9 and reiterated on July 10, that the Chief Elections Officer should prepare and submit his report using the results generated by the national recount.
Regrettably, developments over the last two days suggest that efforts continue to avoid compliance with these obligations and to further prolong the term of the current government. The OAS notes that one of the principal obstacles to completing Guyana’s current electoral process is a person whose duty it is to defend Guyana’s democracy through ensuring respect for the results of elections. As already suggested in our April 15 press statement on the national recount, GECOM should exclude from the current electoral process, and indeed from all future electoral processes, those persons whose actions display clear partisan bias, and who apply this bias unreservedly in hindering the natural unfolding of the democratic process in Guyana.
A credible conclusion of the 2020 elections is essential if Guyana is to remain a democracy. The OAS will continue to support the efforts of the people of Guyana towards this end.
Source: https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-076/20
