Commonwealth SG lauds leadership for efforts to facilitate elections recount

Mar 17, 2020 News

Secretary-General (SG) of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, welcomes and commends the regional leadership of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), at the invitation of President David Granger, to deploy a high-level mission to Guyana, to supervise a recount of the ballots cast in all 10 regions of the recently concluded elections.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland

Baroness Scotland had previously issued a statement on 13th March, expressing deep concern that the tabulation of Region Four results after the March 2 General and Regional Elections was not transparently conducted in accordance with the ruling of the Acting Chief Justice.
According to the statement, the Commonwealth Observer Group to Guyana had informed the Baroness that it is the clear view of the group that the subsequent tabulation in Region 4 was not conducted in accordance with the judgment of the Acting Chief Justice and is therefore not credible.
However, the Commonwealth Secretary General has since noted that the leadership of President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, in coming to this agreement on the way forward deserves to be lauded.
“I also note and welcome the public commitment from Justice Claudette Singh, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), that she would facilitate the recounting of ballots; and her assurance that GECOM will cooperate fully with the CARICOM Initiative. I urge all relevant stakeholders and public officials to do the same, and in accordance with the unambiguous judgment of the Acting Chief Justice,” the Baroness said in the statement.
She noted that the entire Commonwealth family looks to the leaders and the people of Guyana to live up to the lofty aspirations set out in the constitution, electoral laws, and the Commonwealth Charter.

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