GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo says that the coalition – A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), has defied the international community, the country’s Chief Justice, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), concerning the results of the March 2 election.
In a release on Thursday, Jagdeo refereed to a statement issued by the coalition on Wednesday in which it was said that any declaration based on figures derived from a national recount will not be accepted.
“This is in clear defiance …and also in contrast to earlier statement by President Granger that he will accept any declaration made by GECOM.
“No one should be surprised as the PNC, which Granger leads and which is essentially the APNU+AFC, has a history of not accepting the results of every election that they have lost since 1992.”
According to Jagdeo – who was a former President, the PPP/C must now work to ensure “that we have a declaration that is reflective of the will of the people and only one that is derived from the figures generated by the national recount can generate such an outcome.”
“If Granger and his band of riggers believe that they can continue to hang onto office after the declaration has been made, then they are living in a fool’s world. If the international community was prepared to consume and levy sanctions against people who are trying to undermine a democracy, even before the declaration, just imagine the consequences the riggers will face if they refuse to leave office after the declaration. Needless to say, the move will be met by fierce resistance by the PPP and other forces fighting for democracy,” he stated.
Jagdeo, has called on citizens not to be “too concerned about whether they will accept the declaration or not, as we will cross that bridge when we get there. The consequences for Granger and the APNU+ANC, at that time will be as alluded to by Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro – Democracy or Abyss.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the ruling coalition, said it remains open to dialogue with other political parties and stakeholders “on the way forward” as Guyana still awaits the results of the disputed March 2 regional and general election.
In a statement, the coalition said that 20 weeks after the polls were held, no official results have been declared and that while the delay in part has been as a result of the various legal challenges, it is “committed to a lawful and credible declaration of results based on valid votes.
The coalition said that the recount process which ended on June 8 after 33 days ‘revealed massive irregularities and extensive fraud which cannot be foisted on the Guyanese people to contrive an outcome that betrays the will of the electorate”.
It said in the national interest “and with a view to maintaining stability and peace” the coalition ‘remains open to dialogue with other political parties and stakeholders on the way forward for our country”.
The coalition said that it “is prepared to act responsibly to bring a resolution to the ongoing political situation” and urged “all Guyanese to remain calm and peaceful as we await a credible and legitimate outcome”.
CMC
