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An election petition is the tool to challenge the declaration in court
Dear Editor:
As a politically neutral observer of Guyanese and Swiss descent residing abroad, I have raised in the past concerns that the number of votes cast in the 2020 General Elections appear to be too high (see Guyanese Online; Guyana Chronicle of July 11, 2020)[1][2]. In short, with an estimated 477’910 eligible voters living in Guyana and 460’295 votes cast in the 2020 general elections, the voter turnout would be 96.3%. This is rather unrealistic for many reasons and uncommon in liberal democracies. To date, I still have not seen any credible and convincing evidence disproving my analysis.
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However, given the recent court decisions, I believe that time has come for GECOM to declare the results on the basis of the recount votes. It is in the national interest to move on. As I understand, Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield is not willing to do so as he has serious issues with the validity of a significant portion of the votes cast. He is entitled to his views, but the Guyana High Court does not support them. Hence, my advice to Mr. Lowenfield is to step down in order to clear the way for GECOM to declare the results of the recount.
Importantly, however, I encourage Mr. Lowenfield, the APNU+AFC or any other party with evidence of election fraud to challenge the declaration by filing an election petition in accordance with the provisions of Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana. This will be the proper and constitutional venue to present evidence in support of the notion of too many votes cast or any other election irregularities concerning the 2020 general elections. Foreign governments and international organization will hardly be able to label such actions as illegal.
Andre Brandli, PhD
Professor of Molecular Pathophysiology
University of Munich, Germany
Comments
It is time for the APNU/AFC to concede the election. They are looking ridiculous issuing endless court challenges, calling for recounts, etc.
As long as there are no official recount numbers released by GECOM, nobody can realistically concede. The block is currently with CEO Lowenfield, who does not want to submit the results of the recount to GECOM. I have outlined above, what he should do, if he does not want to take the responsibility for the results of the recount. Nobody forces him to submit a result he believes is incorrect, but he needs to take the consequences of not wanting to do so. He can file an election petition in accordance with the constitution to fight the declared result.
Granger wants “valid votes”. Isn’t that what everyone wants, Granger?
Hurry up and let Lowenfield know.
MP
Lowenfield has been criminally changed with attempting to defraud the Guyanese electorate in the March 2 General Election. He was released on $450,000 bail. What a joke!
It should have been in US dollars. Can you believe this nonsense, this circus? And why did he have to have five lawyers representing him in court? Who’s paying his legal fees?
This fella will end up in jail for a long time, after Ali is installed. He’s playing with fire.
MP
A good discussion…one which reveals the need for a “Guyanese” narrative which is essential for moving the country forward.
I offer the following comments.
There is no question that National Dialogue should remain on the table because the race/ethnic issue has to be addressed. The host seems to convey the impression that it was the Europeans and Americans who are STILL responsible for the racial divide today.
Paul Tennasee and David Hinds are both academics, as well as practitioners who applied their knowledge to “ground” with the people in their political activism, so their stories often connect with reality.
Anyone who argues that free and fair elections will not solve the race problem is missing the big picture. Then why enter into if you think you will not win? The opposition lost the election in2015 through free and fair election. The PPP conceded. Instead of now claiming fraud in 2020, the coalition should seek to regroup and rebuild and prepare for2025.
Tennassee addressed a prevailing myth that the Indians came here seeking wealth and fortune. They came to Guyana under conditions (not in their control) that could hardly be described a voluntary (although such conditions were not comparable to those of chattel slavery).
David Hinds and Vincent Alexander, on another forum, considers the Indians, Portuguese and Chinese as the new “colonizers” in Guyana. If as Dr. Hinds said, “we behave as if there is no ethnic problem in Guyana”, the question ought to be raised as to why the coalition government did not address that problem as such since 2015 when they were in office. They had five years to promote “social cohesion” and the coalition also missed a golden opportunity to maintain Indian support but the AFC (part of the coalition, which brought in 11% Indian support) was thrown under the bus by the PNC.
David was a strong supporter of the coalition, and he was a member on the coalition list of candidates in the 2020 elections. The question had been raised by other Guyanese as to whether Dr. Hinds would have been so vociferous in his crusade for “power-sharing” and accusations of “fraudulent election” had his coalition won the election.
Constitutional change is necessary, but it is not the one savior on which Guyanese ought to pin all their hopes. If political leaders are corrupt, they will find ways to engage in extra-constitutional behavior. Constitutions do not automatically change the behavior of politicians.
Guyana will benefit from a federalized political system that shared power with local communities, ethnic impact statements to assess effective of public policies, a revised educational system that promotes appreciation for all cultures and ethnicity, and an inclusive government (as opposed to one that promotes power-sharing).
Any such changes must also include Guyana’s first people, the Amerindians.
Baytoram Ramharack