Latest update February 4th, 2025 9:06 AM
PPP to face major shakeup
– says int’l observers duped to believe polls were free and fair
Just a few days after accusing International observers of collaborating with the coalition to rig last week’s General elections, the People’s Progressive Party yesterday switched its stance.
The PPP said that it is working to make changes at both Parliamentary and GECOM levels, following last week’s elections.
The party, which is now in Opposition, said that it now believes that the observers were duped into believing that elections were free and fair.
On Sunday, former Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, backing the PPP contention that last week Monday’s elections were rigged, wrote that its appears that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the International observers had an agenda.
“It could be that they simply wanted an early result, but in their vulgar haste to produce an early result they may have gifted Guyana with another government born out of fraud and rigging.”
He said that it is the believed that there was an unholy alliance to ensure Guyana gifted certain stakeholders with a government, not of, by and for the people, but for International stakeholders.
“We believe this to be the case because one or more of these International stakeholders is interested in Guyana’s oil deposits. “
Yesterday, the PPP Central Committee, one of its highest decision making forums, toned down the accusations.
“The main aspect of the electoral process which was to observe the counting of ballots and the verification of statements of poll was left entirely in the hands of the GECOM officials many of whom are activists and supporters of the APNU-AFC,” PPP said.
The party, whose stranglehold of Government for 23 years was broken as a result of the May 11 General and Regional Elections, disclosed that it held its first Central Committee meeting yesterday since the May 11 General and Regional Elections.
“The meeting reviewed developments since the elections and took the opportunity to thank the Guyanese people for the overwhelming support it received at the polls. The Central Committee remains convinced that based on feedback received from its Polling Agents and Statements of Poll received, it won the majority of the votes in both National and Regional elections.”
The committee repeated the party’s call for the resignation of GECOM Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally and said it is considering ways of improving its future representation at GECOM.
“Protest actions are also planned at all GECOM offices throughout the country to demand a total recount of all votes cast and the resignation of GECOM chairman.
“The PPP is currently compiling evidence to file an election petition with representation from local and international lawyers.”
The PPP Central Committee said that it also recognized the need to strengthen the party both organizationally and ideologically and also to introduce some changes at the Parliamentary and GECOM levels.
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