Showdown Looms Over Guyana As International Observers Blocked from Recount

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This article was first published on the 5th of May, 2020 by Patrick Carpen.

Last updated: May 7, 2020 at 23:32 pm

The tiny South American country of Guyana may be in for something big – but will it be a big financial windfall or a big civil war?

If I told you to pour a bucket of cold water over your head, would you do it? Most likely not. But if I told you that I would pay you a million dollars to do it, would you? You bet. And that’s what raising the stakes is all about. Potential oil money has raised the stakes in Guyana to a new high, and the promise of riches are taking politicians and politically affiliated persons to new lows.

Experts have predicted that the recent discovery of light crude off the shores of Guyana will push the country’s economy to dizzying heights. With over 6 billion barrels of light crude beneath the country’s water in the Atlantic Ocean and with a population of just 750,000, Guyana’s economy is expected to grow 14 times faster than that of China in 2020 alone. Further the country’s GDP is predicted to grow by 300 to 1000 percent by 2025.

Former US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, said in a reception in Georgetown, Guyana last year, “many people do not get how big this is. You will be the richest country in South America, and potentially the richest country in the world.”

The Big “If.”

Experts had long predicted that Guyana’s recent oil discovery “could” make it rich, but they also worried that Guyana’s ethnic based politics and poor management could destroy it – with the oil wealth only serving as a catalyst for racially divisive politics and subsequent civil disturbances. Already there have been cuss-downs among families, scuffles between neighbors, civil disturbances, riots, bloodshed and even death.

Guyana held its last national elections on March 2, 2020, and two months later, no president has been sworn in. This was due to a botched tabulation process with international and local observers accusing the government of trying to rig the elections in order to remain in power.

After about 2 months, a recount date was finally agreed upon by the Guyana Elections Commission. But on that note, the Carter Center has been blocked by the Guyana Government from returning to observe the recount. This worries many local actors and observers that a plan to corrupt the recount process may be up the sleeves of the APNU/AFC government.

Members of the main opposition political party, the PPP/C and, at their heels, the leaders of several emerging political parties, including ANUG, LPJ and CJ, have claimed that the PPP/C have won the March 2, 2020 elections.

On the other hand, the incumbent APNU/AFC government has also claimed victory. The question here is, who will be declared winner after the ongoing 25 days national recount which started on the 6th of May? And how well will the “loser” accept defeat?

References:

US Government Calls on Guyana to Allow Carter Center In

The United States has today, 3rd of May 2020, accentuated its commitment to democracy in Guyana by calling on the Guyana Government to allow the Carter Center into Guyana to observe the proposed national recount. Read More…

Carter Center Wants to Return, Signals Government Opposition

The Carter Center Elections Observer Mission to Guyana has today, 2nd of May, 2020, tweeted that they are trying to send an observer to Guyana for the proposed national recount but are unable to get approval from the government of Guyana. Read More…

Carter Center Wants to Return, Signals Government Opposition

The Carter Center Elections Observer Mission to Guyana has today, 2nd of May, 2020, tweeted that they are trying to send an observer to Guyana for the proposed national recount but are unable to get approval from the government of Guyana. Read More…

CARICOM Observer Team Lands While Still No Date Set for Recount

The CARICOM observer team which has been arranged to oversee a transparent and credible national recount of all votes cast in the March 2020 elections has today, 1st of May, 2020, landed in Guyana in preparation for the much anticipated votes recount. Read More…

156 Days Recount Proposal Unacceptable – OAS

The Organization of American States has today, 15th of April, 2020, released a statement that the 156 days recount proposal submitted by GECOM’s elections officer, Keith Lowenfield, for the March 2020 elections in Guyana, South America is “unheard of” and “unacceptable.” Read More…

This is a Military Coup D’etat – Anthony Viera

We have to find a way to stop this charade. This is no longer a situation which simply seeks to delay the publishing of a credible result of the 2020 elections in Guyana which will be acceptable to the international community, this has gone much further. Read More…

GECOM Had Declared SOPs in 2011 – Timothy Jonas

Timothy Jonas, leader of the recently formed political party, “A New and United Guyana,” in a video conference with several other public figures, has expressed his frustration with the state of the March 2, 2020 electoral process. Read More…

155 Days Recount Plan Puts Guyana in Economic Deadlock

Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield has today, 8th April, 2020, made a proposal that it would take 155 days to complete the national recount of votes cast in the March 2, 2020 elections. This preposterous and outrageous proposal is a clear attempt to frustrate the recount process by making a proposal that will put Guyana in an economic deadlock for at least the next 5 months. Read More…

US to Ensure National Recount of Votes is Free, Fair, Transparent and Credible

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has today, 7th of April, 2020, issued a statement commending Guyana‘s High Court for clearing the way for a national recount of the votes cast in the March 2, 2020 elections. He also said that the United States stands ready to work with international observers to ensure that the recount is done in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner. Read More…

Trinidadian Prime Minister Expresses Deep Worry About Political Situation in Guyana

The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley, who was part of the CARICOM Observer Team to Guyana‘s 2020 elections, has expressed deep worry about the volatile political situation in Guyana. Read More…

The OAS and What it Spells for Guyana

With the APNU/AFC de facto regime digging its heels down a slippery slope of dictatorship, many government supporters and officials have gone as far as accusing international observers of siding with the opposition PPP/C. As ridiculous as this may seem, it has actually happened. Read More…

GECOM Once Again Stalls Recount Process – April 3, 2020

The Guyana Elections Commission in association with the APNU/AFC government seems to be hell bent on putting the Guyanese population’s emotions on a roller coaster ride – to say the least. Read More…

US Ambassador Explains that Good Diplomacy is Not “Foreign Interference.”

The United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch, has yesterday, 2nd of April, released a statement on the US Embassy Official Website explaining the difference between “foreign interference” and “good diplomacy.” Read More…

One Thing is Clear…PPP/C Has Won These Elections – Lenox Shuman

Presidential Candidate of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Mr. Lenox Schuman, has today, 31st of March, 2020, in Georgetown, Guyana, South America, made a statement that it is clear that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic has won the March 2, 2020 elections. Read More…

Chief Justice Rules In Favor of Recount of Region 4 Votes

Chief Justice Roxanne George, today, 31st of March, 2020, ruled that the injunction filed by Ulita Moore to block the recount of Region 4 votes is unconstitutional. Read More…

Claudette Singh and Keith Lowenfield Lock Horns Over Recount of Region 4 Votes

While the international community continues to send strong warnings to Guyana of the dangers of electoral fraud, some high-ranking officials seem to be heeding the warning while others seem bent on facilitating the APNU/AFC’s actions to cling to power at all costs – even the cost of international sanctions. Read More…

APNU/AFC and GECOM “Inseparable.” – Lenox Shuman

Presidential Candidate for the Liberty and Justice Party, Lenox Schuman, has yesterday issued a statement that GECOM and the incumbent APNU/AFC are working in cooperation with each other to undermine a democratic electoral process in Guyana. Read More…

Breaking News! United States Summons Guyana Ambassador to the US, Riyad Insanally

As the post 2020 elections saga in Guyana, South America continues between the people of Guyana versus GECOM/APNU/AFC, Acting Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs has today summoned the Guyana Ambassador to the US, Riyad Insanally. Read More…

UK Government Warns Guyana that Undemocratic Government Will Result in Serious Consequences

The United Kingdom, through Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, has last Tuesday, 24th of March, 2020, joined the international community in issuing a stern warning to the Guyana government to desist from swearing in a president on the basis of a non-credible electoral results. Read More…

An Illegitimate Government Will Not Have Access to Foreign Assistance – Ruel Johnson

In a letter to the Editor of Stabroek News, dated 25th of March 2020, Guyanese author and politician, Mr. Ruel Johnson, made a compelling argument for all Guyanese to allow democracy to prevail and to stand against corruption. Read More…

PPP/C Gained Majority Votes in March 2 Elections – Nigel Hinds

In a letter to the Editor of Stabroek News, dated 26th of March 2020, Mr. Nigel Hinds, Prime Ministerial Candidate of Change Guyana, has conceded that it is clear to him that Mr. Irfaan Ali, presidential candidate of the PPP/C has won the March 2nd Elections in Guyana, South America. Read More…

Citizens Brave Midnight Rain to Guard Ballot Boxes

The fight to preserve democracy post Elections 2020 in Guyana has not been an easy task, and who knows what the outcome will be? What is sure though is principled and strong Guyanese who have shown extreme dedication in the fight to protect Guyana‘s democracy and avoid international sanctions which will only result in overall suffering for the Guyanese people. Read More…

Elections 2020 Has Been a National Embarrassment – Dominic Gaskin

Eighteen days have now passed since the Guyanese people participated in a relatively simple exercise to elect a government of their choice. At close of play today we still do not have a final outcome. What we have are the individual declarations of the results of the ten electoral districts by the respective Returning Officers. There have been requests for recounts in a number of districts but, by far, the most controversial declaration was the one made with respect to District 4. Read More…

International Observers Have Been Harassed by APNU/AFC Supporters – Carter Center

“International observers have been harassed, and protestors supportive of the APNU+AFC coalition have at times blocked international observers from doing their work. Specific threats have also been made against the international community that are unacceptable and further undermine the credibility of the electoral process.” Read More…

Norway Blocks 34 Million US Dollars Climate Aid to Guyana

While many Guyanese have been boasting about their “first oil” and the billions of dollars that was supposed to flow from it, the resource curse has already hit Guyana at several levels. First, post elections riots that left one dead and several injured, a dictator government clinging to power by all means possible, and now this. Read More…

Some Tabulation Totals Reflected More Votes than Eligible Voters – Commonwealth Observers

In a report released by the Commonwealth Observer Group to Guyana on the Commonwealth Official Website, today, 18th March 2020, the Group blasted GECOM, particularly the Returning Officer for Region 4, Mr. Mingo, for what it termed “serious and persistent electoral malpractice.” Read More…

I Shout to the World – This is Wrong! – Marie Anne Cholmondeley

Here is a letter to the editor which should never be lost – but preserved in the archives of Guyana‘s history as one of the greatest letter ever written. Here are the words of a woman who has put decency, morals, principles and love for country above personal gains, racism and political affiliation. Read More…

Government Would Lack Legitimacy if Sworn In – CARICOM

While many APNU/AFC supporters are cheering for the premature swearing in of their presidential candidate, the incumbent David Granger, the CARICOM has yesterday issued a statement that any government sworn in under these conditions would lack legitimacy. Read More…

Breaking News! United States Warns that Electoral Fraudsters will Face a “Variety of Serious Consequences.”

In a video posted on the Facebook Page of the United States Embassy in Guyana, today, 17th of March 2020, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, warned that “individuals who seek the benefits of electoral fraud will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States.” Read More…

APNU/AFC Accuses Observers of Siding with PPP/C

The say all the world’s a stage, but Guyana is looking more like a circus show. In most recent development the incumbent APNU/AFC coalition party has accused the International Observers, particularly the Organization of American States, of taking sides with the PPP/C. Read More…

Guyanese Appeal to Queen of England for Help – LOL

I had made a few jokes on the internet about Guyanese beseeching for the Queen of England to take back her former colony. And I’d made a few memes about it. But I never expected it to get this real! Read More…

Organization of American States Says that Guyana’s Democracy Has Suffered a “Terrible Blow.”

While APNU/AFC politicians and supporters are hurriedly claiming victory, the Organization of American States Observer Mission in Guyana has released an official statement on March 13 which says that Guyana‘s democracy has suffered a “terrible blow.” Read More…

Executive AFC Member, Dominic Gaskin, Pushes for Transparent Tabulation of Region 4 Votes

Executive Member of the Alliance for Change (AFC), which is part of the APNU/AFC coalition party, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, is the only person in the coalition who is standing up and calling out GECOM in the controversial Region 4 votes tabulation which has attracted international attention. Read More…

Breaking News! High Court Rules to Block Swearing in of APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate

The APNU/AFC coalition had claimed victory in the March 2, 2020 elections of Guyana and were in the process of swearing in their presidential candidate when an injunction was granted by the High Court to block the swearing in. Read More…

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, Tweets about Support for “Democratic Transition” in Guyana

The most recent Regional and National elections in Guyana, held on March 2, 2020, was one marred by riots, chaos and bloodshed and unusual disturbances at the Guyana Elections Commission Office in Georgetown, Guyana. Read More…

High Court Has Jurisdiction in Case Filed Against GECOM – Chief Justice

Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George, has today, at around 2:30 PM, ruled that the High Court “does” have jurisdiction in the case of GECOM versus the PPP/C. Read More…

High Court to Rule on Whether to Block Swearing In of President Tomorrow at 1: 30 PM

This afternoon, after a lengthy hearing that lasted until around 4:30 PM, the the Chief Justice of the High Court announced that she will rule on the injunction filed to block the swearing in of the President tomorrow, March 8,2020 at 1:30 PM. Read More…

One Dead, Several Injured in Post-Elections Riots

At least one person was killed and several reportedly injured in post-elections 2020 riots and civil unrest across Guyana, South America. Read More…

9 Regions Declared, PPP/C Leads Race

As the tabulation of votes continue to move at a snail’s pace, the preliminary results for nine out of ten regions across Guyana have been declared by GECOM. The only outstanding region as of 10 PM on March 4th 2020 is Demerara-Mahaica (Region 4). Read More…

Carter Center, European Union Officials Observe Advanced Voting Exercise in Region 9

Today, 21st of February, 2020, members of the disciplined services (Police and Soldiers) throughout Guyana, played their part in determining Guyana‘s future president and political leadership. Read More…

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