BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH the two major political organizations claiming victory at the polls in Guyana, violence has broken out in the country, and a number of people are said to be seriously injured.
Videos out of the South American nation show roads being blocked with burning tires, police officers being assaulted and citizens seriously injured.
The violence came after an announcement was made by the Guyana Elections Commission that the government won the largest region by a significant margin that resulted in coalition winning another term following Monday's elections.
Frustration boiled over today (Mar after results for the largest region showed the incumbent government winning by just over 7000 votes. However, opposition parties said that based on the tally of votes that they have on their Statement of Polls from the various stations in that region, they won by a comprehensive margin.
A video obtained by SKNVibes News purports to show the leader of the Opposition in Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo allegedly inciting a crowd. This media house cannot independently verify that footage.
The tension, according to reports from on the ground, is said to be racially tense where the predominantly afro guyanese and indo guyanese are clashing on the outskirts of the town.
In Georgetown, the international Observer Missions are said to be upping the press on the electoral commission to have the votes for the contentious region four be recounted.
CARICOM in a statement on the issues surround the region four count said “The CARICOM ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION accepts that the tabulation process which commenced on Wednesday March 4, 2020 using the Statements of Poll and which was in accord with the legislative provisions of Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act Cap 1.03 Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana, was interrupted and remains incomplete.
“Furthermore, it is evident that the transparent tabulation of results for Region 4 must be resumed under the independent control of the Returning Officer, as these scores are necessary and critical, in order to determine the outcome of the National Poll.”
The statement noted that like in other regions in Guyana, it is imperative that the Returning Officer be allowed to carry out his functions independent of any influence or directive from the GECOM Secretariat.
The international observer missions from the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States, the European Union, and The Carter Center also weighed on the tabulation process.
The group said the tabulation of results for the election in Region 4 was “interrupted and remains incomplete”.
“The law requires that tabulation must be conducted in the presence of party agents and observers. Until this transparent process takes place, the counting of votes recorded for Region 4 remains incomplete.
The transparent tabulation of results for Region 4 must be resumed in order to proceed to the establishment of national results.
A calm and conducive environment must be provided by the police. We urge all political parties to adhere to the codes of conduct signed by them.
The Guyana Elections Commission, including the chairperson, the commissioners, the chief election officer, the returning officer and deputy returning officers in Region 4, must be available and committed to establish the results for Region 4 in accordance with the law.
The group said that “until this occurs, the result of these elections cannot be credibly declared”.
