APNU pickets over police action against march

The opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Wednesday afternoon picketed near the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), saying it has not received Statements of Poll publicly promised by the elections management body. And across at Brickdam outside the Ministry of Home Affairs, the women’s organisation, Red Thread, picketed there to register its condemnation of the police firing rubber bullets and teargas to break up what authorities had deemed an illegal march by at an estimated 500 APNU protesters on Tuesday. Several students of St. Sidwell’s Primary School at Hadfield Street and Vlissengen Road were affected by the gas and a number of female protesters were among those injured by the bullets. Red Thread's Karen De Souza told Demerara waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) that the protest was their response to the police action which they found "totally out of order." "Our position is we do have a democratic right as citizens of Guyana to organise peaceful demonstrations, which as far as we know yesterday was a peaceful demonstration." She added that Red Thread believes that people have to insist on getting their right to demonstrate peacefully. When asked if the group had sought permission for its exercise she responded that they had not. De Souza added that they did not have any plan to escalate their action since it was a small organisation but added that they would hope that other Guyanese would recognise the danger to their rights. Joining Red Thread outside the Home Affairs Ministry were several APNU activists who demanded that Minister Clement Rohee resign because of his "abysmal" failure in combatting crime. Several of the placards targeted him. "Rohee you are an abysmal failure!", "Rohee has no discipline so police indiscipline continues," "We demand an inquiry into Dec 6th shootings," and "Home Affairs Ministry gets a big big F" some of them read.  The number of protesters eventually grew to over 100. Attorney-at-law and APNU youthh activist James Bond who was among those injured in Tuesday's police action against protesters told demwaves.com that they were protesting the inefficiencies of the ministry. "Mr. Rohee's last tenure has been marked by failure in a number of areas; can't protect the businessmen, can't protect the fishermen, can't protect our miners in the interior and we're seeing a growing incompetence in the police force, we're seeing growing unprofessionalism in te police force and we need that stamped out." According to Bond, the first step to remedying those problems is Rohee's resignation. "Yesterday's action by the police in terms of shooting at innocent walkers shows the degradation, the depth to which this ministry has sunk, it is an abysmal failure and I do believe Mr. Rohee's resignation is the first remedy to the problem," he said.  Meanwhile, APNU executive member, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine told Demerara Waves Online News that his party has been reading in the media about the availability of the Poll Statements but none has been handed over. “We have heard nothing from GECOM. We are not in possession of any official document, we have received no letter, we have received no Statement of Poll,” Roopnaraine told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com ) Asked whether his party would go down and collect the documents to conduct the reconciliation with the official results, he said “I certainly will not. It is for GECOM to hand it over to us.” The estimated 60 persons seen at the time when Demerara Waves was on the scene were chanting slogans and holding placards beyond police barriers at Main and High Streets, Kingston. No heavily armed police were seen. The demonstrators were orderly and peaceful. The placards read, among other slogans, “We will not stop until our demands are met,” “My vote must count,” “The price for peace is justice,” “Guyanese need a government that is transparent,” “Steve Surujbally must go now,” “PPPC rigged the elections,” and “Young people want change, tired of one-party rule.” Speaking with demwaves.com from the picket-line, APNU candidate, Annette Ferguson charged that GECOM flouted protocol by failing to respond to her party but instead allegedly provided the statements of poll to representatives of the international community. “Rather them dealing professionally with us by writing us, they have more or less provided international agencies with this information.” “We are calling on you to provide the leadership of the APNU the statements of poll and not the international bodies,” added Ferguson.

 

police open fire on APNU Marchers

From Demera Waves Police Tuesday morning opened fire with rubber bullets and teargas on supporters of the opposition coalition APNU who proceeded on a march down Brickdam without the required permission to do so. At least four persons were reportedly arrested including attorney-at-law James Bond and retired brigadier Eddie Collins, both of whom were reportedly injured when the lawmen opened fire. Eight students and a teacher from St. Sidwell's Primary School in Hadfield Street were also affected by teargas and were taken to the hospital as was APNU member Lurlene Nestor.  The crowd and police had been awaiting word from a meeting between Bond and 'A' Division Commander George Vyphius but moments later the protesters decided to move off. A hastily-formed human barricade outside the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission's office could not contain the marchers who headed down Brickdam while the police awaited further instructions. Moments later a truck carrying police in riot gear proceeded the mass down the thoroughfare.   However, the crowd attempted to push past a police cordon in the vicinity of the Louisa Row despite police warnings. They were ordered to disperse and go to their places of abode but did not heed the instructions leading to the police action.   The crowd then headed back up Hadfield Street to the Square of the Revolution where the carts and mobile stalls of vendors were seized.  "We are not going to take this lying down because this is a declaration of war on people who have a right to protest," APNU's David Hinds stated afterward. He added that the police' action was unprovoked since the people had been marching peacefully. "There is nothing illegal about people protesting during elections. It is not illegal to exercise your legal and human right to occupy public space," the political scientist said.     According to Hinds, the people's votes were not honestly counted and they hold President Donald Ramotar responsible. About 300 protesters had gathered at the Square for a march but they were told by the police that they did not have permission to march. A police officer urging the people to disperse Hinds had appealed to Police Officer Watts to strike a compromise by guaranteeing the protection of the protesters.  "We are exercising a lot of restraint at the same time" Watts told Hinds.  He wants the people to disperse. "Its unlawful, disperse." Hinds had said that he would advise the people to be orderly and that "politically, it's not a breach of the peace." "I want to get from you that these people will be protected. It is quite normal for citizens to congregate in a public place." "We have at present a situation that we have to diffuse. What I want from you all is cooperation to disperse," the police stated. Watts had also threatened to arrest persons and let the court deal with the matter. At the time APNU's Nestor insisted that permission was granted but later withdrawn. Police say they have to apply for permission one day at a time.  The APNU has been pushing for a reconciliation of the Statements of Poll from last week's elections saying there were too many discrepancies.

 

APNU Protest outside GEOCOM Chief's Home

A group of pro-APNU protesters and police were Monday night on a standoff outside the Lamaha Gardens residence of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. 

Police insisted that they remove from the area. "You all please leave this area, it is illegal". "Go to your respective homes," they pleaded. But one of the organisers maintained that they have a legitimate right to peaceful and quiet protest unless there is a state of emergency. 

Another group of protesters was outside the Dennis Street, Campbelville home of Chief Election Officer, Gocool Boodoo. They later dispersed.

They were chanting and singing hymns while holding candles in their hands. 

When more police arrived in a minibus, organisers asked the protestors to leave the area.  When they were some distance away, executive member of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Gerry Gouveia exited Surujbally's residence. The group shouted "shame shame". 

They said Gouveia and Surujbally were among others sipping wine on the verandah of the GECOM chairman's home. 

Two wine glasses were seen on the verandah.  

The APNU has been demanding an all-party verification of the Statements of Poll from Monday's elections claiming that there were too many discrepancies particularly in Region Four. The coalition has said that it is prepared to accept the findings of such an exercise, one which has also gotten the support of the AFC.

An AFC official told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) at the weekend that they were prepared to make their Statements available for such a verification.

Meanwhile, the PSC has also indicated that it would support a reconciliation of the Statements if that would bring acceptance of the elections results.   

The People's Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) Monday night condemned the "intimidatory behaviour/  tactics" by members and supporters of APNU for taking their protest action to the home of the Chairman of Elections Commission and Chief Elections Officer.

"The PPPC believes while APNU has a right to protest their brazen and daring act of provocation and lack of civility and respect  cannot be excused," the party said in a statement.

"Such intrusion on the privacy of the elections officials and their families is definitely crossing the boundary and therefore deserves the condemnation of all decent and law-abiding Guyanese," the party added.

 The PPPC called on the leadership of APNU to publicly denounce this level of behaviour that goes against the norms of civil, peaceful  and decent  protest.

Guyana Elections 2011: An Analytical Review

From Kaiteur News
Dear Editor,
Having looked on with great interest at the outcome of this year’s elections, I noted the many concerns and rebuttals about the integrity of the poll.
Without wishing to cast any doubt upon the veracity of the declared outcome I thought that it would be useful to conduct an ‘Analytical Review’ (AR) of the Election results. I am a Chartered Accountant (FCCA) with twenty five years experience (verifiable credentials can be supplied if required). I am very experienced at preparing statutory accounts and conducting investigations utilising ARs.
An analytical review involves analysing significant ratios and trends for unusual changes and questionable items. To this end I have looked at the 2011 Election results and compared them with the 2006 Election.
I have attached a comparison table (all GECOM figures) of the election results for both the 2006 and 2011 Guyana Elections.
GECOM has declared that the PPP has secured the most votes at this year’s poll. I am again stating for the record that I am not challenging the GECOM declaration.
However, I recall that PPPC spokesman, Robert Persaud lamented the failure of its supporters- mostly Guyanese of East Indian descent-to go the polls last Monday.
I noted the surge in support for APNU. I wondered if closer inspection would reveal how/why the 2011 results went the way they did. Bear in mind that most commentators posit the view that since 2006, the demographic make-up has changed and the overall population has shrunk.
Based upon the attached tables, these are some of my main observations:
1. Total votes cast were down in Regions 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8.  This represents 6 out of the 10 regions. Region 9 was virtually unchanged.
2. The only regions showing an increase in votes cast were regions 3, 4 and 10. What must also be borne in mind is the fact that regions 3 and 4 are two of the three biggest regions in terms of the electorate. The other is region 6.
3. In the main wherever the overall vote was down the PPP vote was also down. Please see the comparative results for regions 1,2,5,6 and 8. So in five of the six regions where the vote was down, the PPP vote was down. This would seem to confirm Robert Persaud’s conclusions.
4. When compared year on year, the PPP vote suffered a double-digit percentage fall in the following regions: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, and 10. Five of these regions showed falls in overall votes (see point 1 above).
5. The PPP had only one increase in their vote and that was in region 9. I have concluded that unlike in other regions it may have benefited from picking up former ROAR votes. ROAR had its best showing in the 2006 elections in region 9.
6. The PPP’s worst performance was in region 6 where it suffered a 23 percent decline in support. In every region where the PPP secured 4,000 or more votes in 2006, they suffered declines of between 14 percent and 23 percent.
Except for regions 3 and 4.
7. Excluding region 9 for the reason given above, and setting aside regions 3 and 4 for the time being, the PPP’s average national decline in vote since 2006 was 15 percent. This is not insignificant.
8. Which brings me to regions 3 and 4. The first statistical anomaly I noted was that they were the only regions along with region 10 that showed increases in the overall votes cast.
9. Regions 3 and 4 as already stated are two of the three largest electoral regions in Guyana. I wondered what the explanation for them having increased votes was.
10. Interestingly enough, unlike the rest of the nation, regions 3 and 4 appeared to buck the trend in the PPP’s decline in support. Whereas the national average was 15 percent, in region 3 the decline in support was only 4 percent.  And in region 4 the corresponding decline was astonishingly only 2 percent.
11. Regions 3 and 4 had the largest absolute increase in voters. Regions 3 and 4 are two of the three largest electoral regions. It would mean therefore that small percentages here and there have major impacts overall.
12. In the 2006 election, the PPP received 97,000 votes combined in regions 3 and 4. In 2011, the PPP received 94,000. This is a miniscule drop in support. Even more so when the national average is 15 percent. This aspect of the election requires closer examination. If the national drop in support was reproduced in regions 3 and 4, the result would be very interesting indeed.
In conclusion, I wish to congratulate GECOM’s staff and all those involved in the running of this year’s elections. Theirs was not an easy task.
However looking in from the outside the contradictions so evident in regions 3 and 4 leaves one wondering.
Colin Bascom

Selassie's legendary Peace Speech--UN 1963

On October 4, 1963, following the founding of the Organization of African Unity in Addis Ababa a few weeks earlier in the presence of almost every African head of state, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie the First spoke at the United Nations' General Assembly in New York City. In the fast changing world of the sixties, as many African nations were struggling for independence, Selassie's historic utterance carried the full weight of the OAU he had just founded in a masterful diplomatic operation, of panafricanism on the rise and, more generally, of all the oppressed people throughout the world, in the name of whom everyone felt he spoke.

Baptized Tafari Makonen, then given the rank of a Ras (equivalent of a Duke), he belonged to the oldest dynasty in the world, which, according to the ancient and sacred Ethiopian book the Kebra Nagast (The Glory of Kings), was in power at least as far back as Menelik the First, son of Solomon, King of Israel, and Makeda, Queen of Sheba. The Ras Tafari's coronation/sacrament in 1930 as Haile Selassie I ("Power of the Trinity") was seen by a small community of Jamaican Christians as the fulfillment of a Biblical prophecy that Marcus Garvey, who was struggling for Black emancipation, used frequently in his speeches.

These Christians recognized Selassie as the Divine leader referred to in the prophecy and henceforth later began calling themselves Rastafarians, as in Jah (one of many Hebrew names for God) Rastafari. This syncretic faith has since grown to millions of followers, from Blacks to half-castes, like Bob Marley, to people of all colours. As Selassie himself said at the United Nations, "Until the colour of a man's skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes", righteous Rastafarians will be struggling for equal rights and justice throughout the world. In his 45 years of reign, the mighty Lord of Lords sought to pull Ethiopia out of its feudal past and towards democracy. Many think of Selassie as the Nelson Mandela of his time. The Negus was also a key figure in the founding of the United Nations, where the utterance heard on this record was spoken in Amharic, the Ethiopian language.

Part of this legendary peace speech by Selassie, then at the zenith of his reign, was turned into the song War by Bob Marley who recorded it for his fine 1976 Rastaman Vibration album. Thus Rastafarians, and above all Bob Marley, are showing the way for mankind to finally recognize one of the most overlooked civilizations in history -that of Ethiopia. It is in this spirit that Bruno Blum produced this new version of War with surviving members of Marley's extraordinary band, the Wailers, who can also be heard on the original recording of the song. Haile Selassie's voice was then overdubbed on it, as if he was posthumously "singing" this Bob Marley song. For the first time, the sound of Jah's own voice can be heard on a reggae record, and Bob Marley's voice was also added in the mix.

English translation as published in the 1972 book Important Utterances of H.I.M. by the Imperial Ethiopian Ministry Of Information, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

"On the question of racial discrimination, the Addis Ababa summit conference taught, to those who will learn, this further lesson :

that until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned;

that until there are no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation;

that until the colour of a man's skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes;

that until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all, without regard to race;

that until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but fleeting illusions, to be pursued but never attained.

And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in sub-human bondage have been toppled and destroyed; until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; until that day, the African continent will not know peace.

We Africans will fight, if necessary and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.

The basis of racial discrimination and colonialism has been economic, and it is with economic weapons that these evils have been and can be overcome. In pursuance of resolutions adopted at the Addis Ababa summit conference, African states have undertaken certain measures in the economic field which, if adopted by all member states of the United Nations, would soon reduce intransigence to reason.

I ask, today, for adherence to these measures by every nation represented here which is truly devoted to the principles enunciated in the charter.

We must act while we can, while the occasion exists to exert those legitimate pressures available to us lest time run out and resort be had to less happy means.

The great nations of the world would do well to remember that in the modern age even their own fates are not wholly in their hands.

Peace demands the united efforts of us all. Who can foresee what spark might ignite the fuse?

The stake of each one of us is identical-life or death.

We all wish to live. We all seek a world in which men are freed of the burdens of ignorance, poverty, hunger and disease. And we shall all be hard-pressed to escape the deadly rain of nuclear fall-out should catastrophe overtake us.

The problems which confront us today are, equally, unprecedented. They have no counterparts in human experience. Men search the pages of history for solutions, for precedents, but there are none.

This then, is the ultimate challenge. Where are we to look for our survival, for the answers to the questions which have never before been posed? We must look, first, to the Almighty God, Who has raised man above the animals and endowed him with intelligence and reason. We must put our faith in Him, that He will not desert us or permit us to destroy humanity which He created in His image.

And we must look into ourselves, into the depth of our souls. We must become something we have never been and for which our education and experience and environment have ill-prepared us.

We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community."

Haile Selassie I

4 October 1963

United Nations, New York.

Excerpt from Haile Selasie Speech on War

H.I.M. Haile Selassie I Speech to the United Nations (excerpt) 
New York City, NY  October 4, 1963

"...until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil..."

Final results in detail

APNU-Elections were not free and fair

APNU has charged that the election was not free and fair because of alleged manipulation of votes, missing statements of poll, multiple voting and intimidatory tactics by a number of PPPC candidates on polling day. 

APNU has also complained that the integrity of some ballot boxes has been called into question, particularly in the wake of the discovery of a number of broken ballot-box seals at North Ruimveldt Multilateral School. Several of those seals are in the possession of APNU at the Congress Place headquarters of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR)- the major coalition partner. 

APNU supporters took to the streets Thursday afternoon and thronged outside  Parliament Building while the presidential candidates met insidee. After the meeting, they were led to the Square of the Revolution where a meeting was held and they were asked to disperse.

APNU Supporters march again to demand verification

A large contingent of supporters of the opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) marched through the streets of Georgetown to the Kingston headquarters of the Elections Commission to press demands for an all-party reconciliation of Statements of Poll in Monday’s polls.

Police ranks kept a close eye on the peaceful crowd which has massed beyond the barriers at Lamaha and Main Streets, about 100 yards from the Commission.

The gathering, which included former senior officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), was vociferous but peaceful. The march was incident free.

After a few minutes near the police barriers, APNU supporters marched back along Lamaha Street into Vlissengen Road to Square of the Revolution where they were again addressed and told to disperse. Before leaving outside GECOM, there was a difference of opinion over the route that should be used to return to the Square, with some saying they should go down Main Street and possibly to the commercial heart of Georgetown. 

In the city centre, stores remained opened and there was a steady flow of traffic as the protesters almost collectively stayed away from the business centre.

APNU presidential candidate, David Granger told a large gathering of party-faithful, before they began marching, that the results would not be accepted.

The legal deadline for a recount has already passed. But in the past, a Caricom-appointed forensic audit headed by Ulric Cross had conducted a recount of votes cast in the 1997 general elections. Though the recount had confirmed a Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) victory, the elections were vitiated by the High Court on grounds that the use of voter identification cards was illegal.

President-elect Donald Ramotar is expected to be sworn in on Saturday to head Guyana’s first ever minority government.

While staying on the streets at the same time, APNU is pushing for a government of national unity. Ramotar earlier Friday refused to confirm one way or the other whether that was an option. The PPPC’s Central and Executive Committees would first have to meet to discuss how that party expects to run the country effectively without a majority in the 65 -seat National Assembly. 

APNU supporters take to the streets

From Demerara Waves Angered by defeat and allegations of vote-rigging, supporters of Guyana’s main opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Thursday night thronged outside Parliament Buildings where political leaders were meeting inside. They pushed down police barriers to express disgust that the incumbent Peoples Progressive Party Civic’s (PPPC) Donald Ramotar was declared winner of Monday’s presidential elections. Riot police, armed with rifles and teargas canisters did not go into action and there were no immediate reports of anyone arrested. APNU presidential candidate, David Granger has already charged that there were massive irregularities including broken ballot box seals, inconsistent tallies on statements of poll and multiple voting in some areas of the mainly East Indian-backed PPPC Chanting “We want Granger,” “No place for Donald”, and “No school, No work,” they walked, drove and rode from their party headquarters to Parliament Building in the commercial heart of Georgetown. At the end of the meeting Granger went out to meet the crowd and led themdown Brickdam to the Square of the Revolution by which time hundreds had gathered. After some delay in which they sought to secure a public address system he finally addressed the crowd telling them that the party knows their interests and will represent them. "We have asked for an all-party verification of the statements of poll,"he said noting  that between the opposition parties now control the parliament. The PPPC won 32 seats in the 65-seat National Assembly with 48.6 percent; APNU with 26 seats and 40.8 percent and the Alliance of Change (AFC) got seven seats with 10.3 percent. The United Force did not get any seats in the 65 seat National Assembly. Granger urged  them to stay calm and then suggested that they meet back at the Square at 5 PM tomorrow but the crowd responded "we aint waan hear duh." After several attempts to appease the crowd it was finally agreed that they would meet back at the Square at 10 AM Friday. Speaking to reporters afterwards he again called for supporters not to be disorderly.  "We have advised our supporters that there must be no disorder no lawlessness we have to find a solution to this crisis ... there's a security crisis, there's a political crisis in this country," he stated.                   Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) observers examine broken ballot box seals that were found at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School on Tuesday. Centre is APNU's Mervyn Williams. Chief Election Officer, Gocool Boodoo pegged voter turnout from among the 475,000 eligible voters at 72.9 percent. President-elect Donald Ramotar has already signaled that he would shortly appoint a cabinet and expressed regret that his party did not secure a working majority in the assembly. “I would have liked to have a majority in the parliament but the electorate has spoken and we have to work with what we have,” he said. Television talk-show host, Christopher Ram, laying the blame for the minority government at the feet of outgoing president, Bharrat Jagdeo, said the country was on the cusp of positive development through legislative, constitutional and fiscal management and accountability. “I think Guyana is in for five of its most glorious years. It’s important that the APNU and AFC do not get carried away and say let’s bring down the government,” said Ram an accountant and practicing lawyer. With a minority government, the Ramotar led-administration would have to first win bipartisan support before laws can be amended and the budget passed. AFC Executive Member,  Nigel Hughes said the outcome of Monday’s polls signaled the need for Guyana’s constitution to be overhauled or changed because the results now mean that a significant segment of the population would be left out of cabinet and the government. At the same time, he said the AFC welcomed the outcome of the polls, saying that for the first time it gives the opposition an opportunity to check the excesses of the government. “We are happy that no single party has a majority in parliament and that we would be able to exercise some restraint but I must temper that by saying that the present winner-take-all system will not address the concerns of the people,” said Hughes, a well-respected lawyer.

GEOCOM declares Romotar President. Opposition wins one more seat than PPP

Donald Ramotar has been declared the next president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana as the incumbent People's Progressive Party/Civic wins its fifth successive trip to the polls according to final results from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Chief Election Officer Gocool Boodoo made the revelation going through the seats won by parties region by region Thursday afternoon, three days after ballots were cast countrywide.

According to the figures revealed by the CEO, the PPP/C won 32 seats, the APNU 26, and the AFC 7 giving the incumbent a minority government with an oppositioned-controlled majority in the parliament, a first in Guyana. 

For the second election in a row, the PPP/C lost substantial support in terms of the numbers of voters who turned out.

PPP/C not controlling Parliament means that it will need one of the opposition groups to support its measures in Parliament.

It will also be vulnerable to a motion of no confidence which if successfully passed would unseat the government and fresh elections would have to be called.

Final declaration should result from an “all party verification” of the SOP’s for Region 4

by Apnu Guyana on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 12:57pm

A Partnership for National Unity (A.P.N.U) has, as a consequence of the many and serious discrepancies in the computation of the results, particularly for Region 4, asked its Assistant Election Agent for Region 4 and senior A.P.N.U leaders, to engage in the procedure of verification on which the computation, that is the basis for the declaration by the Returning Officer for Region 4, will be based.

In addition, A.P.N.U has, this morning, dispatched a letter to Mr. Gocool Boodhoo, the Chief Elections Officer, reiterating our position that the final declaration should result from an “all party verification” of the SOP’s for Region 4 and any other Region where serious discrepancies are found to exist.

It is unfortunate that reports continued to be received of questionable discrepancies as well as the tampering and unauthorised modification of Statements of Poll.

A.P.N.U, as a responsible Partnership, has asked its supporters to remain calm though vigilant and avoid responding to the various provocative statements and actions being perpetrated at this time. It is evident that the PPP’s agents are bent on engineering incidents to distract attention from their sinister intents regarding the influencing of the results to be declared by GECOM.

AFC says it will hold balance of power

Guyana Chronicle Report THE Alliance For Change (AFC) is optimistic that no single party will obtain the majority of seats in Parliament, which means that it will have the deciding vote in the House. AFC presidential candidate Khemraj Ramjattan said this yesterday at a press briefing convened at the Pegasus Hotel, where he and other senior party members took the opportunity to report on their success at the 2011 General and Regional Elections. “Based upon our tabulations, we are confident that no one will have the majority of seats, and therefore that means that the AFC will now have the deciding vote,” he said. According to him, this will mean that there will be new areas for development and for the party to highlight its policies in the interest of the citizens of Guyana. As to the party’s performance at the elections, he pointed out that despite the fact that the AFC did not win the elections, the party performed well in certain areas, when compared to the 2006 elections at which they secured five seats in Parliament. As to the advantages of no one party having the majority of seats, Ramjattan said, “AFC will hold the balance of power… will be able  to sit together as responsible leaders to work out the issues, and will then be able  to bring some of their issues to Parliament.” Addressing the possibility of a post-elections coalition, the AFC prime ministerial candidate Raphael Trotman emphasized that at this time there are no plans to join any of the other parties. This, he said, is not likely to happen, as the AFC will be present in full force to support the issues of the people in the National Assembly. In this regard, Ramjattan also dispelled the possibility of a union, and stressed, if the situation arises, there will be a “tripartite representation” in Parliament. He said, “That is the kind of thing that we want to see in Parliament … no one political party will have the majority of seats. The time has come to initiate some change; and we, too, have our agenda, as we will try as much as possible to have that incorporated.” Meanwhile, the AFC members expressed satisfaction at GECOM’s process, but expressed some concern over the commission’s delay in announcing the results and over the People Progressive Party’s (PPP/C) call for a recount, which they termed a “delaying tactic.” Ramjattan noted that the delay has caused tensions to rise and speculations to circulate. Despite this, he maintained that the AFC will accept GECOM’s results of the 2011 General and Regional Elections, providing there are no glaring irregularities, and, urged all Guyanese to be responsible and vigilant once the results are announced. “We are confident that the political will of the Guyanese electorate will emerge,” he stated.

EAB says GEOCOM refused some of his monitors in the Interior

Meanwhile, head of Guyana’s observer team, the Electoral Assistance Bureau, Malcolm Rodrigues, rapped GECOM for not allowing some of his team to monitor the polling at one far-flung station. He said it was “very important that GECOM remember its obligation to the nation and that the nation comprises people who live in the mountains and forests…and a number of our observers walked for over a day to a polling station and were told they would not be allowed in”.

All Parties agrre to accept final shape of election if...

At the time of writing, all political parties have agreed to accept the final shape of the elections. But Mr. David Granger has warned that APNU would only tolerate the outcome that resides in the statements of poll that were signed at the close of the balloting. Obviously, APNU and the AFC know what are contained in those documents. This seems to me to be fair position of Mr. Granger.

APNU 30 mins ago

APNU wants verification of SOPS

From Stabroek News

Opposition coalition, APNU this morning called for all the parties to sit together and verify the Statements of Polls, particularly for Region Four, after saying that it has evidence of manipulation of results.

“We have sufficient evidence of manipulation and we alone don’t feel so,” said APNU’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Rupert Roopnaraine at a press conference at Congress Place this morning. He called for the parties to sit down and reconcile the SOPs together. Roopnaraine alleged that at least 105 SOPs have vanished from South Georgetown.

Final results cannot be declared unless the ten returning officers from the different regions make their regional declarations and Roopnaraine said that he believes that the declaration from Region Four may be in “jeopardy” at this point.

APNU’s Elections agent Joseph Harmon has written to Chief Election Officer, Gocool Boodoo on the issue. Roopnaraine said that there are other regions that have been affected but their main concern is Region Four. He urged supporters to remain calm. 

Guyana preliminary elections results as at 5:43 AM Thursday

Overall preliminary figures for General Election as released by the Guyana Elections Commission

APNU - 115,783

AFC -     31,383

PPP/C- 148,199

TUF -         773

TOTAL VOTES CAST -  300,269

TOTAL VALID VOTES - 296,138

Region by Region Breakdown as of 11pm last night

APNU: Acording to their SOPs PPP cannot win majority.

Presidential Candidate, Brigadier (ret) David Granger speaking to supporters at Congress Place lass evening, continued to urge supporters to be calm and to keep the peace. 

Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine also told supporters that according to A.P.N.U statement of polls all indications show that the PPP cannot win the majority of votes. 

Dr. Roopnaraine added that all of GECOM's statement of polls will be matched with those of A.P.N.U and if there is any discrepancy, GECOM's results will be rejected.

GEOCOM Results 10pm Wed Night. PPP still leads

Overall preliminary figures for General Election as released by the Guyana Elections Commission APNU - 109,673 AFC -   28,638 PPP/C- 136,881 TUF -         748 TOTAL VOTES CAST -  279,762 TOTAL VALID VOTES - 275,940