Weekend Mirror 18-19 July 2020

18-19 July, 2020 / Vol. 11 No. 31 / Price: $100

Internet: http: //www.mirrornewsgy.com / e-mail: weekendmirror@gmail.com

Granger gov’t must respect election results, step aside – Pompeo Personal sanctions hit…

PAGE 11

Ali says ‘dangerous game’ being played with democracy, freedom, rights of Guyanese PAGE 7

‒ Phillips assures of fight to see democracy prevail

GECOM meeting scuttled by another legal action PAGE 10

‒ Oral arguments set for Friday at 2PM ‒ Lowenfield fails to prepare final report for fourth time

Op-Ed: The evil of the anti-democratic brigands must not be allowed any space to triumph PAGE 2

SEE INSIDE

Finance Secretary threatens action PAGE 21 against staff engaged in whistleblowing

Moderna fires up COVID PAGE 22 vaccine race with promising early results

Arson attempt at Umana Yana PAGE 20

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Efforts to derail democracy Coalition driven only by self-interests increasingly damaging for – PPP/C prime ministerial candidate Guyana’s image – Teixeira T he naked power grab by the de facto APNU+AFC Coalition exposes that it is narrowly on self-interests, according to People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Prime Ministerial Candidae, retired Brigadier General (retired) Mark Phillips.

He said, “APNU/AFC have lost the elections. They know that. The whole issue of the changing narratives is in keeping with whatever strategy they conceive in their minds, that they can implement to remain in office at all costs. “…but they are selfish.

The situation in Guyana is deteriorating every single day that this cabal decides

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uyanese, as well as the regional and international community are clear on the winners of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, over 136 day since the polls, according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive, Gail Teixeira.

However, she underscored the fact that the country continues to grapple with a “totally unprecedented” situation of an illegal attempt to grab power by the APNU+AFC Coalition, aided by compromised elements with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

This, Teixeira stressed, the turn of events is increasingly damaging o Guyana’s image on the global stage.

Appearing on Barbados’ CBC TV8’s Morning Show, she said, “We do know who the winner of the elections is. We know who the winner was after the national recount, which CARICOM, as the legitimate interlocutors, observed…the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won with 15,416 votes more than the current governing party…if you add that number to the votes of the smaller parties that are in opposition to the government, they (the APNU+AFC Coalition) lost about 23,00024,000 votes. “…the issue to date has been the efforts of the government, along with officials of the Elections Commission

– totally unprecedented – to derail the elections….we are in a very serious situation… the issue is not who won, the issue is getting to the declaration so we can swear in the legitimate government of Guyana.”

The PPP Executive, asked on a likely end to the impasse, expressed the hope that there is a swift resolution, in the interest of the country and the Guyanese people. “I can’t say how long they (APNU+AFC Coalition) will keep it up, but I can say that the international pressure is increasing on them….Dr. (Ralph Gonsalves) and your (Barbados’) Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, for whom we have great respect for having the courage to say to the Guyanese officials that the ‘Truth hurts…you didn’t win’ and

for taking principled positions,” she said.

She added, “The government and the President (David Granger) seem to be very reluctant to listen to the Guyanese people and all the international bodies….the calls have been made for the recount results to be used to make a declaration…we as a people are tired, as we are not alone in our country and, certainly, in the world.”

During prior press engagements, Teixeira has stressed the dangers of actions that will see Guyana’s being separated from the global fold of democratic nations. “Right now the issue is constitutional compliance and whether or not we will find ourselves coming out from the global fold of democratic nations,” she had siad.

that they want to hold on to power. They’re not doing anything for the Guyanese people. The Guyanese people have already voted them out of office. They need to respect the will of the Guyanese people.”

Phillips has stressed it is time for the APNU+AFC Coalition to act with integrity and decency and put the interest of Guyana and the Guyanese people above their own.

The national report had shown that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC coalition garnered 217,920.

Four times, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)

Chairperson, retired Justice Singh, has written to the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, and instructed him to prepare a final report based on the recount.

On all four occasions he defied instructions. As such the electoral impasse persists.

Notably, over 130 countries are represented, collectively, by the Organisation of America States (OAS), the Commonwealth, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the European Union (EU) have all called for a swift resolution of the electoral process using the results of the national recount to allow for a democratic transition of government.

Over 350 prisoners granted early release – Samuels

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he Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, on Tuesday (July 14, 2020), announced that over 350 prisoners were freed.

According to him, the prisoners were released because of COVID-19 pandemic or ‘other reasons’, which satisfied grounds for their early release.

Samuels said, “The prison population would have seen a decline of some 200plus prisoners. As it relates to persons who were actually released, this number will be much bigger but we’re also dealing with the daily admission of new prisoners from the courts. “…as it relates to persons that were granted release as it relates specially to COVID, as it relates to persons who were granted remission, per-

sons who were granted reduction in bail and they were able to post bail; persons who have been placed on self-bail; it would amount somewhere in the vicinity to 350 or even more.”

Further, in light of the deadly epidemic, the Director of Prisons explained that new prisoners are subjected to two weeks in quarantine before being placed with the other inmates. They are also examined by medical practitioners for signs and symptoms associated with the virus. “The problem is that as persons go out, persons are coming in…we do new admissions at two prisons.

That would be New Amsterdam and Lusignan. All persons who are admitted to the prison are subjected to 14 days quarantine. During that

period, they are examined by the prison medical staff and when they’re cleared, then they are placed in the general population,” he said.

Earlier in March, the caretaker administration had moved to release over 50 prisoners from three penitentiaries across the country in an effort to create space amid the coronavirus pandemic.

These persons were released from the Camp Street Prison in Georgetown, Mazaruni Prison in Bartica and Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara. From the list of offenders released, a majority were jailed for possession of narcotics, assault and larceny while others were found guilty of more serious offences. Those persons would have served one-third of their sentences.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Op-Ed: The evil of the anti-democratic brigands must not be allowed any space to triumph

By Ralph Gonsalves CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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n July 8, 2020, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) delivered its judgement on the long-running saga touching and concerning the election of the President and members of the National Assembly of Guyana — the General and Regional Elections — held as long ago on March 2, 2020.

The CCJ’s judgement was lucid in every material particular. And as Guyana’s highest, and final, appellate court, it is authoritative. Thus, any attempt, however ingeniously clothed, to litigate all over again this or that matter upon which there has been a final determination or upon which the CCJ has pronounced authoritatively, is tantamount to an abuse of the process of the court or is frivolous and vexatious.

Since the delivery of the judgment of the CCJ, the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh, has been seeking to bring finality to the elections through relevant decisions, declarations, and directives in accordance with the Laws of Guyana and the judgement of the CCJ. Her central focus has been to get the valid votes, as identified or defined by the CCJ, counted.

At every turn, GECOM has been frustrated by a recalcitrant Chief Elections Officer.

In a normal democracy what should a straightforward matter of counting votes, has become the equivalent of a long-running soap opera, pregnant with real danger for the people of Guyana and the Caribbean Community. This charade ought to be brought to an end immediately and a just declaration made by GECOM in keeping with the clear mandate delivered by the voters of Guyana and in accord with the Laws of Guyana and the CCJ’s judgement.

The entire world realizes that a small group of persons, in and out of Guyana, are seeking to hijack, in plain sight, the elections, and thus the country. Competitive elections

deliver, necessarily, winners and losers. When you lose, you take your loss like a grown man or woman, and you move on peaceably to the role which the voters, in their collective wisdom, have assigned you. CARICOM, the Organisation of American States, the European Union the Carter Centre and other independent observers including those from CARICOM, the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the USA have pronounced on this matter, essentially with one voice. Yet, the dangerous games continue to be placed by a minority of persons associated with the political entity which has plainly lost the election. They are literally playing with fire, commotion, disorder, and civil war.

The leaders of CARICOM, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, cannot and must not appear to be indifferent to, and detached from, what is happening in Guyana. That magnificent country, Guyana, and its industrious people of the highest quality, are dear to us in CARICOM. We are in solidarity with the people of Guyana; we defend on an ongoing basis the territorial integrity of Guyana. Today, CARICOM defends democracy in Guyana; we defend the voters of Guyana; we are on the side of the angels in the stand-off between those who reject the people’s verdict and those who insist, properly, on its observance, recognition, formal declaration, and implementation. Guyana, as the host to the headquarters of CARICOM, as a signatory to the Charter of Civil Society, the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, and other fundamental documents of relevance, has certain fundamental obligations to CARICOM. A rogue clique within Guyana cannot be allowed to disrespect or disregard, with impunity, the clear, unambiguous ruling of the CCJ. The time for decisive action is shortly upon us.

I am deeply disturbed at the credible reports that persons, purportedly allied to certain political forces in Guyana, have been threatening, defaming, and verbally abusing leading personalities in the CARICOM Secretariat, including the Secretary General, His Excellency Irwin

La Rocque. This is wholly unacceptable! Accordingly, I publicly call upon His Excellency President David Granger, an honourable man, to denounce those who have been engaged in such threats, defamation, and verbal abuse.

The voices of all decent men and women of democratic temper must join in the denunciation and condemnation of those whose nefarious agenda is antithetical to every thing that is good and honourable in our Caribbean civilization.

These self-same vile and vulgar persons, having failed in their attempts to curse and bully Prime Minister Mia Mottley and former Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur, and me, have now turned their demonic attention to senior staff members of CARICOM and other reputable persons in Guyana and the Caribbean Community. We must continue, fearlessly, to do the right thing. The evil of the anti-democratic brigands must not be allowed any space to triumph.

I await, soonest, the declaration by the Chair of GECOM of the results of the elections. It is long over-due!

(July 14, 2020)

Promptly issue a declaration of results Granger backpedals: Talks now about ‘conditions’ using recount, begin the democratic for acceptance of GECOM Chair’s declaration consistent line from the declaration that the Chairman secured 217,920 votes. transition process – US Congressmen TheAPNU+AFC Coalition [of the Elections Commission] • A New and United Guyana

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he Chairman and Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs sub-committee, Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) and Congressman Gregory Meeks (DNY), have made clear that the results of the national recount must be used to make a final declaration and allow for the democratic transition of power.

In a statement on Wednesday (July 15, 2020), the duo said, “As friends of Guyana who recently traveled to the country in January, we urge the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to promptly issue a Declaration of Results based on the results of the national recount. CARICOM, the Organization of American States, diplomatic missions, and domestic civil society organizations all confirmed that the recount was completed in a professional and transparent manner, providing the basis for a Declaration of Results.

“We strongly support

the multilateral efforts made to support the people of Guyana throughout this process, which have been led by CARICOM and supported by the U.S. Embassy, the European Union, the Canadian and British High Commissions, and the Organization of American States. While we do not endorse President Trump’s and Secretary Pompeo’s unilateral approach to conducting foreign policy around the world, we stand with our career diplomats and with the international community, which is completely unified in calling for the immediate Declaration of Results based on the recount.

“We condemn all efforts to undermine the credibility of the March 2nd election, including recent actions taken by the Chief Elections Officer to effectively disenfranchise thousands of voters and manipulate the vote count. We fully support GECOM Chairwoman Claudette Singh’s decision

to dismiss all of the Chief Elections Officer’s fraudulent reports and are confident that she will declare a winner based on the actual vote count, as certified through the recount process. Guyana’s leaders must prioritize national unity and the longterm health of Guyana’s democratic institutions and abide by the will of the Guyanese people, as reflected in the recount results.”

The House Foreign Affairs sub-committee leaders also commended the people of Guyana for their “remarkable patience” over the last four months. “They (Guyanese) have waited far too long. GECOM must promptly issue a Declaration of Results and begin the democratic transition process,” the two Congressmen said.

The statement represents a unified position from the United States of America’s Congress and Senate, in relation to the electoral process in Guyana.

leader, David Granger, is that his de facto government will accept a final declaration of results from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, when it is made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh.

In his last public comment on the issue, on a radio programme on June 29, 2020, Granger had said, “We have publicly stated that we support the Elections Commission, both the Chairman and the Chief Elections Officer, and we are prepared to live by the outcome. Once the Chairman makes a declaration, which I hope is soon, we will abide by that declaration.”

Prior to that, on May 18, 2020, outside the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC), he had said, “As President of Guyana and leader of the government, it is my policy that any declaration coming from the chairman of GECOM will be accepted by the Government of Guyana. I speak for the Government of Guyana.”

However, this week, a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, on Tuesday (July 14, 2020), stated that Granger will “abide by any

makes in keeping with the laws of Guyana.”

Notably, the caveat - “in keeping with the laws of Guyana” – was a variation in the consistent line peddled by Granger and was uttered on the same that that yet another legal challenge was filed in the High Court by an APNU+AFC Coalition polling agent for the March 2020 elections, Misenga Jones. The challenge seeks to have the entire national recount process and its results discarded and to have a declaration made on the basis of the July 11, 2020 report from the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield. Notably, Lowenfield’s latest report includes proven fraudulent numbers for Region 4, which were compiled by the embattled Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

Based on the national recount, which ended on June 9, 2020, there were a total of 460,352 valid votes.

The national recount results, at the General Elections, based on the Certificates of Recount for all 10 Regions, show that: • The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2 General Election with 233,336 votes.

• The APNU+AFC Coalition

secured 2.313 votes • Change Guyana secured 1,953 votes; • The Liberty and Justice Party secured 2,657; • The People’s Republic Party secured 889 votes; • The Citizen’s Initiative secured 680 votes; • The New Movement secured 244 votes; and • The United Republican Party secured 360 votes.

The national results, at the Regional Elections, based on the Certificates of Recount for all 10 Regions, show that: • The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2 Regional Election with 233,661 votes.

• The APNU+AFC Coalition secured 217,055 votes.

• Change Guyana secured 2,607 votes; • The Liberty and Justice Party secured 2,935; • The People’s Republic Party secured 927 votes; • The United Republican Party secured 1,369 votes; • The FUP secured 153 votes; and • The OVP secured 448 votes.

The results of the national recount gives the PPP/C a lead of over 15,000 votes over the de facto APNU+AFC Coalition government.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

EDITORIAL Granger-led Coalition’s interference, undemocratic actions clear to all

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he fictitious claims by the David Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition that it has “not interfered” with the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) persist; even when all of Guyana, as well as the regional and international community, is aware of its actions.

From compromised staffers at the GECOM Secretariat to the counterproductive actions by the Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman – every effort, on the instructions of the Granger-led Coalition, has been made to undermine the will of the Guyanese people and thwart the democratic process.

The Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led APNU+AFC Coalition has demonstrated that it has a fundamental aversion to complying with the Constitution and laws of Guyana since taking office in May 2015, more so since the successful and valid passage of the no-confidence motion in December 2018.

The Coalition’s undemocratic actions to interfere in the democratic process have been seen in: 1. The Coalition’s effort to delay General and Regional Elections, with frivolous court actions, that was supposed to have been held since March 2019, three months after the passage of the no-confidence motion; 2. The Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners’ effort to frustrate Guyanese with the House-to-House registration process, the intent of which was found to be illegal by the High Court in 2019; 3. Instructions by Congress Place carried out by the Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, via the attempt to drag out the timeline within which GECOM was ready to hold elections, finally resulting in General and Regional Elections being set for March 2, 2020; 4. The manipulation of results in Region 4 Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, who presented fraudulent declarations twice – on March 5th, signed by the PNCR Chairperson, Volda Lawrence, and on March 13th , signed by a candidate for the Coalition, Carol Joseph; 5. Instructions by Congress Place carried out by the Chief Election Officer to have a protracted delay of the national recount, with his 156-day proposal, with vociferous support from the Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners during meetings of the Commission; 6. The Coalition’s vexatious court challenge of the national recount process filed in the name of the APNU+AFC Coalition candidate at the March 2020 Elections, Ulita Moore; 7. Instructions by Congress Place carried out by the Chief Elections Officer to disenfranchise over 200,000 voters – on the sole and unverified basis of claims made by the Coalition – with his June 23rd report on the national recount, even after he admitted that the recount results showed a win for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) by over 15,000 votes; 8. Instructions by Congress Place carried out by the Chief Elections Officer, who refused to comply with the instructions of the GECOM Chairperson, to prepare his final report using the valid election results as indicated on the Certificates of Recount; 9. The APNU+AFC Coalition’s effort to have the Chief Elections Officer present a fraudulent final report on the election results, which they embraced and used to claim an electoral victory. This was followed by the APNU+AFC Coalition’s Raphael Trotman’s public utterances that a fraudulent report by the Chief Elections Officer should be used as the basis for an final declaration of election results, even if they are wrong; 10. The frivolous court action, a disguised elections petition, filed by the Coalition’s Eslyn David, which was thrown out by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) – a ruling that the Coalition continues to distort in its public utterances; 11. The trotting out of the Coalition’s Moses Nagamootoo, and others, to disparage the CCJ, as well as regional and international leaders who have spoken out against the undemocratic actions of the Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition.

12. The absenteeism of the Coalition-nominated GECOM

Revocation of the visas of the rigging cabal is the first step to holding them accountable Dear Editor,

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n Wednesday (July 15, 2020) the US, through their Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs Minister) announced the first set of sanctions against the rigging cabal in Guyana. Mr. Pompeo announced the US is revoking visas and green cards for government officials, others in GECOM, a lawyer and donors who are enabling the rigging cabal and all their families. This is just a warning set of sanctions, just to demonstrate the US means business.

Two weeks ago, Khemraj Ramjattan had the temerity to deem sanctions as a bluff. Well the US has an answer - there is no bluffing. This is just the first slap, after a series of warnings. More serious sanctions are on their way should the rigging cabal persists in trying to thief the March 2 elections. Clearly, the US Government has lost their patience.

Clearly, the US Government is not in a mood to wait for five months to elapse.

But if the revocation of the visas of the rigging cabal is the first step of sanctioning for the US, the rigging cabal is about to be hit by a tsunami of sanctions coming from other powerful allies. The UK, promptly after the US announcement, had its own declaration it is preparing to issue their first set of sanctions on the rigging cabal. The Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada announced unless the Granger government allows the smooth transition now, Canada will follow the lead of the US to sanction the rigging cabal.

These are clear signals the world which have consistently spoken out against the effort to thief the elections and have issued warning after warning is about to match words with action. For those who believed that the warnings would never materialize into meaningful action, there

is now tangible evidence that no one is in a mood to tolerate flagrant thieving of the elections in Guyana.

David Granger and APNU+AFC have made the first move to leave their rigging cabal partners in GECOM "holding the bag". The Office of the Presidency issued a statement insisting they are innocent and all they are doing is waiting on GECOM to do its job. In other words, blaming GECOM for the delay in declaring the results.

Clairmont Mingo, the Returning Officer, doing the bidding of APNU+AFC by fraudulently replacing the Statements of Poll for hundreds of polling stations in Region 4 should take note that his handlers in APNU+AFC is willing to throw him under the bus.

Keith Lowenfield, the chief rigger at GECOM, must think long and hard because Granger and APNU+AFC have already shown that they are not willing to take the fall.

Of course, Lowenfield and Mingo must know that sanctions from countries like the US, the UK, Canada are only a part of their troubles - charges and jail time are awaiting them. At the same time, others in GECOM should examine the behavior of the rigging cabal in APNU+AFC - they will cut and run and leave the boys and girls at GECOM to feel the heavy hand of the law.

But Granger and APNU+AFC should not think it will be easy to walk away and leave their rigging partners at GECOM "holding the bag" for them.

No one anywhere in Guyana and around the world is fooled. We know who are the intellectual authors and architects of the rigging, of the fraudulent tinkering with the results. David Granger and the APNU+AFC leadership are fully on board with the wicked scheme to thief the elections. They are on record

Commissioners from GECOM meetings where the finalising of election results were to be certified, on the instruction of the Granger-led Coalition; 13. Urging Coalition supporters to protest outside GECOM’s head office, as well as at other locations, and engage in threats to the GECOM Chair if she does not make a final declaration that is favourable to the Coalition; 14. The Coalition’s July 14th court action, using one of its agents, Misenga Jones, who participated in the national recount, to have the national recount thrown out; and 15. The use of its minions, such as Christopher Jones, on social media platforms to make threats about ‘no peace’ if the APNU+AFC Coalition is not given an electoral win.

All of this is being led by the ‘sanctimonious’ Granger and his henchmen, including Joseph Harmon.

It has been over 130 days since the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and there is no doubt that the interference by the APNU+AFC Coalition in the work of GECOM continues to prevent a final declaration of election

insisting Mingo did nothing wrong. The Statements of Poll show that Mingo dramatically altered the numbers in hundreds of SOPs. That is a crime. The recount added further proof of Mingo's crime. Now Granger and APNU+AFC want the Mingo numbers used for a declaration, unequivocally aligning themselves with Mingo's fraud. Lowenfield have copies of the SOPs from all 2,339 polling stations. He knew on March 5 and on March 13 that Mingo's numbers were fraud. He still insisted on using those fraudulent numbers to prepare two different reports for GECOM and claiming victory for Granger and APNU+AFC. Granger and APNU+AFC endorse these fake reports and further are now asking the courts to allow them to use these fake reports to keep Granger as President.

Granger himself agreed to the recount. Now his party is asking the court to throw out the recount and the results of the recount. This after, Lowenfield used the recount to present two other fraudulent report in which he threw out 175,000 and 115,000 votes, claiming these were dead people and persons who were not in Guyana on March 2. We are not fools. We know that Ulita Moore, Estyln David and now Ms. Jones are not the real challengers in court. They are simply surrogates for Granger and APNU+AFC. None of these persons have the capacity to hire these lawyers.

Let us see who are paying these lawyers.

For Granger and APNU+AFC to think no one knows it is APNU+AFC who are the real challengers in court is to be stupid.

Their insistence that everyone, including international stakeholders, must wait until the court disposed of the (Turn to page 5)

results, which would allow the swearing in of the democratically elected president and government.

The callous behaviour of the Coalition has unmasked its officials for all the Guyanese people to see, more so since it is more concerned with hanging on to power illegally, continuing the rape of the treasury and state assets, while ignoring major issues affecting our people, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the worsening state of the local economy.

Mr. Granger’s spins on the facts of the day and the rhetoric he and his government are peddling will not change the reality of our situation – the undermining of our democracy and its consequent impacts. Further, his lack of leadership in the right direction exposes the fact that he is complicit in the action of the would-be election riggers.

The position of the PPP/C – with support from Guyana’s civil society, all Opposition political parties and the regional and international community – is that only acceptable outcome is the democratic transition of government on the basis of the national recount.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Continuation of current situation will have disastrous consequences Dear Editor,

Court of law has pronounced I on the unconstitutionality, illegality of the Granger’s actions multiple times Dear Editor,

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he author of that statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, insults the collective intelligence of this nation by titling the statement ‘President Granger abides by the Constitution’.

The People of Guyana, nay the people of the world, are very much aware of President Granger’s unparalleled record of serial and gross violations of the Constitution.

For example: 1. President Granger’s willful refusal to act upon the recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission; 2. President Granger’s willful refusal to constitute the Judicial Service Commission since August 2017; 3. President Granger’s instructions to Mr. Joe Harmon to direct the Police Service Commission, an independent constitutional body, to halt promotion of Police Officers; 4. President Granger’s directions to Ms. Simona Broomes to direct the Public Service Commission, an independent constitutional body, to halt the promotion of Public Servants; 5. President Granger’s unconstitutional revocation of dozens of rice farmers’ leases; 6. President Granger’s unilateral appointment of Justice James Patterson as the Chairman of GECOM, in violation of the Conatitution; 7. President Granger’s willful refusal to resign, disband cabinet, and call an elections within three (3) months after the successful passage of a no-confidence motion, in December 2018, as mandated by the Constitution; 8. President Granger’s continuous refusal to accept the will of the electorate expressed by the ballots at the March 2nd 2020, Elections,

as mandated by the Constitution 9. President Granger’s continuous and repeated attempts, through his Commissioners and acolytes, to interfere with the operations of GECOM, an independent constitutional body 10. President Granger’s willful refusal to engage the Leader of the Opposition to secure an agreement for the purposes of the appointment of a Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary, as is required by the Constitution.

The above list is by no means exhaustive.

In almost every one of the examples cited above, a Court of law has pronounced on the unconstitutionality and illegality of the President’s actions or decisions.

I maintain most resolutely that there was a meeting at which the removal of the Chairman of GECOM, by the President, was discussed. Indeed, it is only after it was realized that the Chairperson cannot be lawfully removed that one of the President’s minions was dispatched to the High Court to seek Orders to restrain GECOM from discharging its constitutional duties of declaring the elections results, based upon the totals generated from the National Recount Exercise - another - colossal assault upon the Constitution and the democratic ethos embraced by the Constitution.

Rather than issuing a Statement of sanctimonious platitudes and rhetoric, President Granger can easily prove me wrong by directing his underlings to withdraw the legal proceedings filed today and to permit the Constitutional Electoral Process to run its course, paving the way for GECOM to declare the true results of the March 2nd 2020 Elections, reflective of the franchise of the electorate.

Sincerely, Anil Nandlall

Lowenfield actions undermines public confidence in his ability to function Dear Editor,

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he antics of the Chief Elections Officer, Mr Keith Lowenfield has demonstrated beyond any shadow of doubt that he cannot be expected to discharge his responsibilities in impartial and fair manner. By his very actions, he has undermined the trust placed in him as he has taken on, inexplicably, a partisan demeanour. Whatever are his motivation/s, they ought not to supersede our democracy and the will of the Guyanese people. It is against this background that, we of the FITUG join the many voices to call for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to act proactively and have Mr Lowenfield, without further delay, removed from his post.

He must no longer have anything to do with the electoral process which has dragged on for more than four (4) months now. His actions certainly have contributed to the state-of-affairs we have found ourselves in.

Mr Lowenfield who has refused, on more than one occasions, to comply with clear instructions, communicated to him in writing,

cannot seek to shield himself by an imagined Constitutional cloak. This clearly does not exist and he is subordinate to the GECOM and, therefore, is required to comply with every lawful instruction given to him. Our laws are very clear on the consequences of refusal to comply with lawful instructions. Mr Lowenfield as an administrator, for many years, would, undoubtedly, be familiar with these repercussions.

The electoral process has gone on for far too long and there is no obstacle that prevents the GECOM from taking decisive action and declaring the results in keeping with the results of the National Recount. No other result is acceptable and people of Guyanese deserve nothing less. We urge in the coming hours that a competent and impartial Chief Elections Officer be appointed and prepare the results paving the way for declaration in keeping with the National Recount.

Regards, Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)

t is more than four months since the March 2nd 2020 elections and a democratically elected Government is still not in place.

Despite undertakings and commitments to respect the results of the Recount Process conducted by GECOM and overseen by CARICOM and other observers, attempts continue to thwart the declaration of the winner of the March 2020 elections.

The political impasse, the absence of a functional Government, the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of a coherent and comprehensive response, have made it difficult for businesses to operate. As a result, many have closed, resulting in losses of jobs and income

for Guyanese.

A continuation of this current situation will have disastrous consequences on the business community and the economy.

The GMSA joins the Private Sector Commission and other private sector organisations, civil society, other local organisations and groups and the international community in calling for a swift conclusion to this political impasse, the declaration of the results based on the Recount Process, and the transition to a new Government reflective of the will of the Guyanese people.

Regards, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA)

Recount results to valid and entirely credible, declaration must be made Dear Editor,

T

he Private Sector Commission (PSC) served as an Accredited Observer along with other Accredited Local Observer Groups and Organizations, the International Diplomatic Community, representing the ABC&E countries and the International Observers, with the exception of the Carter Center who were denied entry into Guyana by the Coalition Government.

The Private Sector Commission fielded Observers throughout the entire period of the Recount, at every Work Station, all day, every day.

The Private Sector Commission, while recognizing minor administrative difficulties, found the process of the Recount to have been efficiently conducted and authentic.

The Private Sector Commission noted, as did the CARICOM Report, the frequently aggressive, and, at times, obnoxious, if not bizarre, behavior by Agents representing APNU+AFC at the various Work Stations, but, who, nevertheless, were unable to document any material complaints to question the process.

The Private Sector Commission, as

did all of the National and International Observers, found the Recount results to be valid and entirely credible.

The Private Sector Commission was pleased to endorse, without reservation, the observation of the CARICOM Scrutineers, that “the objections raised by the APNU+AFC” were not “materially relevant to the recount of the ballot” and that there was “no evidence as to who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the alleged ‘ghost voting’ and voter impersonation”.

The Private Sector Commission, in all of these circumstances, has no hesitation in demanding of GECOM, to proceed to make a declaration using the recounted results of the General and Regional Elections as soon as is practical and expect David Granger to tell his supporters the truth and to concede.

We also would like to extend deep appreciation to CARICOM, the OAS, the European Union and the Commonwealth, the Carter Center and to the ABCE countries that join us in this struggle to preserve and protect democracy and the rule of law in Guyana.

Regards, Private Sector Commission

Revocation of the visas of the rigging cabal...

(From page 4)

matter is hoping that everyone will cooperate with their brinkmanship and the gamesmanship. The latest court matter is asking the court to throw out the recount order and the recount results. The CCJ has already ruled on this matter. The Guyana High Court cannot throw out the ruling of the Apex Court.

Their request for the Chief Justice to order GECOM to use Mingo's fraud to declare the election results is insulting to the CJ who has already ruled that Mingo's fraud was created from an illegal process. This court matter is designed to stop GECOM from declaring the true results of the elections. It also whimsically urges the court to permit them to thief.

The US and others have given the signal to Granger and APNU+AFC they cannot hide behind the court anymore.

The foreign interference defense is hopeless. These countries are implementing values and policies they live by. We agreed by our

own signatures to many treaties that we will live with these values and policies. Democracy is something we agreed to as the global governance foundation. We cannot be part of the global family and want to thief elections.

Free and fair elections are obligations we agreed to in order to be part of the global family, to be part of the United Nations. We must, therefore, live by these values or announce to the world we do not want to be part of the global family. We could never survive.

The time has come for Granger and APNU+AFC to step aside. The time has come to swear in Dr. Irfaan Ali as Guyana's 9th President. The time has come to commence the 12th Parliament. The time has come for Dr. Ali's new cabinet to start the work of moving Guyana forward.

Regards, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Day 131….

Lowenfield refuses to comply with GECOM Chair’s instructions ‒ presents final report detailing Mingo’s March 13th numbers

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he national recount exercise was conducted over a period of 34 days, at the end of which Certificates of Recount for all 10 Regions in Guyana were produced and signed off by staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and representatives of all the political parties, except those from the APNU+AFC Coalition.

For all intents and purposes the Certificates of Recount were to replace the regional declarations of election results made by the regional Returning Officers, more specifically, the March 13, 2020 fraudulent declaration for Region Four that was made by embattled Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

However, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, for the third time, defied the instructions of the GECOM Chair, Claudette Singh, and instead of submitting his final report based on the Certificates of Recount, as instructed – to allow for the final declaration of election results – he submitted a report that features the regional declarations, including the fraudulent March 13, 2020 Mingo numbers. His move rendered the national recount process inconsequential.

Notably, at the commencement of the national recount, the regional declarations were held in abeyance by the GECOM Chair, until the end of the recount process. That said, it is unclear what legal provision Lowenfield relied on to bring back regional declarations, when the national recount produced signed and validated Certificates of Recount for all 10 Regions.

ANOTHER MEETING Lowenfield’s latest objectionable move took place on Saturday (July 11, 2020)

when he was instructed, for the third time, to have his final report ready by 11:00hours (11:00AM) and presented to the Commission.

Saturday’s meeting of GECOM – the GECOM Chair and the six GECOM Commissioners – was the second meeting in two days where the certification of the final declaration of elections results was expected to take place, but ended with that effort being scuttled.

On Friday (July 10, 2020), when Lowenfield was ordered to submit his final report, for the second time, he came with a letter asking for the GECOM Chair to clarify her instructions. In the time that the GECOM Chair took to prepare and sign a letter in response to Lowenfield, he left the building claiming that he received a death threat.

As such, Friday’s meeting ended and Saturday’s meeting was called.

However, at the Saturday meeting, none of the APNU+AFC Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman – showed up. Given the absence of the three Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners there was no quorum, so the meeting could

not take place.

Lowenfield, also, did not turn up to the meeting and had his objectionable final report on the election results sent to the GECOM Chairperson.

NATIONAL RECOUNT NUMBERS In Lowenfield’s report on Saturday (July 11, 2020), he claimed that the valid votes totaled 475,118 votes.

Of those he assigned the APNU+AFC Coalition with 236,777 votes and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) with 229, 330 votes.

Based on these numbers he assigned the APNU+AFC Coalition with 33 seats in Parliament, the PPP/C with 31 seats and the smaller opposition parties, with a joined list – ANUG, LJP and TNM – with one seat.

Lowenfield’s July 11th numbers are not those that were reflected on the completion of the national recount.

Based on the national recount, which ended on June 9, 2020, there were a total of 460,352 valid votes.

The national recount results, at the General Elections, based on the Certificates of Recount for all 10 Regions, show that: • The People’s Progressive

CEO, Keith Lowenfield, and the Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo

Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2 General Election with 233,336 votes.

• The APNU+AFC Coalition secured 217,920 votes.

• A New and United Guyana secured 2.313 votes • Change Guyana secured 1,953 votes; • The Liberty and Justice Party secured 2,657; • The People’s Republic Party secured 889 votes; • The Citizen’s Initiative secured 680 votes; • The New Movement secured 244 votes; and • The United Republican Party secured 360 votes.

The national results, at the Regional Elections, based on the Certificates of Recount for all 10 Regions, show that: • The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2 Regional Election with 233,661 votes.

• The APNU+AFC Coalition secured 217,055 votes.

• Change Guyana secured 2,607 votes; • The Liberty and Justice Party secured 2,935; • The People’s Republic Party secured 927 votes; • The United Republican Party secured 1,369 votes; • The FUP secured 153 votes; and • The OVP secured 448 votes.

Lowenfield’s July 11th numbers mirror Mingo’s fraudulent March 13th numbers, which at the end of the national recount were exposed as such. The national recount showed that Mingo increased votes for the APNU+AFC Coalition and decreased votes for the PPP/C. MINGO’S FRAUD The completed recount of votes from Region 4, which were cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, exposed the fact that Mingo did, in fact, manipulate the results

Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, speaking outside GECOM on Saturday (July 11, 2020)

he presented on March 13, 2020.

Mingo manipulated over 22,000 votes in Region 4 – inflating the APNU+AFC Coalition voted by over 19,000 and decreasing the PPP/C votes by over 3,000.

In 145 examples alone, where comparisons were made of Statements of Poll, Statements of Recount and the declarations made by Mingo, it showed that the votes for APNU+AFC was inflated by 7,644 votes. On the other hand, the votes for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) were reduced by 753. The 4,495 and 753 numbers were arrived at comparing Mingo’s numbers and the Statements of Recount.

NEXT STEPS Further, the Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, in comments explained that Lowenfield’s actions represent the latest “insidious step” taken to rig the March 2020 Elections and subvert the will of the people.

He said, “I can choose to use all the nice words – con-

temptuous or violation of the (GECOM Chair’s) instructions – but the word on my mind is that the CEO ‘eyepass’ this Commission…. every report that Lowenfield brings shows a win for a List of Candidates that did not win these elections…everyone knows what the results of these elections are. “…it is not surprising.

I am not surprised at these developments....it tells you something about the insidious steps that the riggers are prepared to take….the Commission cannot be hamstrung by the acts of one or two people who are hellbent on holding this country hostage.”

According to him, considerations of the options available will be reviewed and the “necessary steps” taken. “The Commission is already in possession of numbers, officially, from the national recount exercise... the options will be considered and dealt with accordingly,” Gunraj said.

The GECOM Chair, at the end of Saturday (July 11, 2020), did not publicly comment on this issue.

Exclude persons bent on hindering democratic process – OAS “GECOM should exclude from the current T electoral process, and indeed from all future he Organization of American States (OAS) called for the exclusion of persons bent on frustrating the conclusion of the March 2, 2020 electoral process, in a statement on Friday (July 10, 2020).

It said, “The OAS notes that one of the principal obstacles to completing Guyana’s current electoral process is a person whose duty it is to defend Guyana’s democracy through ensuring respect for

the results of elections.

“As already suggested in our April 15 press statement on the national recount, GECOM should exclude from the current electoral process, and indeed from all future electoral processes, those persons whose actions display clear partisan bias, and who apply this bias unreservedly in hindering the natural unfolding of the democratic process in Guyana.”

The OAS noted too that

GECOM must move forward in concluding Guyana’s electoral process, based on the results of the national recount, and in accordance with the will of the majority of the electorate.

It said, “The decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice on July 8, 2020 confirmed that GECOM has the final authority to declare these elections and that the Chief Elections Officer is required to comply with the Commission’s

electoral processes, those persons whose actions display clear partisan bias, and who apply this bias unreservedly in hindering the natural unfolding of the democratic process in Guyana.” – OAS

directives in this regard. The OAS notes and commends the instructions of the GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d), issued on July 9 and

reiterated on July 10, that the Chief Elections Officer should prepare and submit his report using the results generated by the national recount.

“Regrettably, developments over the last two days suggest that efforts continue to avoid compliance with these obligations and to further prolong the term of the current government.”

A credible conclusion of the 2020 elections is essential if Guyana is to remain a democracy, according to the OAS, which stated that it will continue to support the efforts of the people of Guyana towards this end.

7

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Ali says ‘dangerous game’ being played with democracy, freedom, rights of Guyanese ‒ Phillips assures of fight to see democracy prevail

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uyanese have been witness to an assault on democracy, the rule of law and on the will of the people over the past four months, more so since the July 8, 2020 ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), according to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali, who stressed that decisive action is needed to bring the elections debacle to an end.

In a video message on

Saturday (July 11, 2020), he decried the fact that the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, seems to hold the view that he can act unilaterally and singularly.

“He believes that he is a law unto himself. He believes that he can subject the will of the people to his own fallacy… what Mr. Lowenfield is doing is denying a country and a people a democratically elected government…he is playing a dangerous game

with democracy, freedom and the rights of the people,” Ali said.

The PPP/C presidential candidate’s comments came after Lowenfield, for the third time, defied the instructions of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, to prepare his final report using the Certificates of Recount, which show an electoral victory for the PPP/C.

Ali said, “What Mr. Lowenfield presented to GECOM today as his report is an insult to all Guyanese; it is an insult to all the Observers….it is an insult to all the political parties that contested those Elections. It is an insult to the international community. It is a direct slap in the face of the CCJ and it is a direct attempt to manipulate and fraudulently present numbers that are fictitiously derived to achieve a singular aim of having a government, which was not elected, to be

declared the winner of those elections.”

He underscored the fact that Lowenfield used the regional declaration made before the national recount as the basis of his report, despite the fact that one of those, the declaration for Region 4, was exposed as fraudulent and was the reason for the national recount in the first place. “Still, Mr. Lowenfield saw it fit to go back to those numbers…this, I think, is distasteful and disrespectful, but exposes the entire plot to rig the elections,” the PPP/C presidential candidate said. According to him, Lowenfield’s willingness to embrace Mingo’s fraudulent numbers seem to indicate that he was, in fact, part of the plot to rig the elections from the beginning.

Also, he trashed Lowenfield’s attempt to distort what was a clear and well-reasoned judgement from the CCJ, more so in an information-age when then judgment is widely available. “It is clear that Mr. Lowenfield has an agenda…in all his attempts to modify the numbers of the elections, they all had one singular outcome, giving a victory to the APNU+AFC. Clearly this is a deep-seated plot…the effort by Mr. Lowenfield and others to derail the will of the people will not be allowed,” he said, stating that there are consequences to the actions being advanced by the ‘riggers’.

Ali added that as the delays in finalising the results of the March 2020 Elections impact on the State’s ability to address major concerns of the Guyanese people, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an appeal for patience, as efforts continue to finalize the electoral process, Ali said, “I believe strongly that

as a nation we can overcome. As a nation, we have to pursue the court of justice, the course of ensuring that the will of the people and democracy is celebrated in a peaceful manner – in a manner where we are respectful of each other.”

These sentiments were echoed by the PPP/C prime ministerial candidate, retired Brigadier, Mark Phillips, who acknowledged that there are challenges to be addressed, but also stressed that the finalization of the election results will allow energies to be directed towards addressing critical issues.

He said, “This political impasse, or some may call it the electoral impasse, has affected, not only the economy, but continues to pose a challenge to our security – our internal and external security….we wish to commend our security forces, both the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force, for their efforts and ask that they continue to be professional and continue to follow lawful orders….we wish to commend the people of Guyana for remaining calm so fair…. our approach to a solution is embedded in the laws of the Guyana; we will respect the rule of law.”

Phillips added that democracy will prevail and efforts are being advanced to ensure this outcome. “Let us allow a couple more days to GECOM to bring an end to this electoral impasse…we will uphold the democratic traditions of Guyana.”

While the PPP/C leaders have commented on the actions of Lowenfield, the APNU+AFC Coalition leader, David Granger, has remained silent on concerns and on the international condemnation of Lowenfield’s actions that has been communicated by key organisations.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Guyana’s only ‘democratic Day 131….

Four political parties call for solution’ is respect for Lowenfield to be fired national recount results T T he Organization of American States (OAS) has stressed that respect for the results of the national recount is Guyana’s only democratic solution In a statement on Saturday (July 11, 2020), it noted that the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, in direct opposition to the instructions of the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission, has submitted a final report which includes data compiled prior to the national recount; data which had already been deemed to be questionable.

It said, “There can be no justification for this action.

As intimated in our statement of July 10, this confirms that the Chief Elections Officer is acting in bad faith and contrary to the interest of democracy in Guyana.

“Let us be very clear – the only democratic solution for Guyana at this time is respect for the results of the national recount. No other figures – neither those prepared prior to the recount, nor those recently invalidated by the Caribbean Court of Justice, nor any others that may be unilaterally devised by the Chief Elections Officer – can have any place in the final determination of results. A new electoral process is also

an unacceptable solution.

“Article 1 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter states that: ‘The peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it’. It is past time that the current leaders of Guyana comply with their democratic responsibilities and allow the newly elected government to take its place.”

The organisation noted that in the coming days, the OAS General Secretariat will report to the OAS Permanent Council on these and other recent developments in Guyana.

Day 131….

Only recount results will be accepted by global community – UWI head

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he results of the national recount is the only basis, acceptable to the global community, on which a new government can be sworn in, according to Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Sir Hilary Beckles.

In a comment on Saturday (July 11, 2020), he said, “Sometimes it requires a personal rather than political or professional perspective to see beyond the borders of a seemingly divisive circumstance, and to offer a dispassionate comment.

I was named by my father after his cousin, Hilary Alfonso McDonald Beckles.

‘HAM Beck’, as he was called, was little known in our native Barbados, but his contribution to nation building in Guyana is well-respected. In the late 1940s, he fled “Bim” for “BG”. He taught classics for near three decades at Queen’s College in Georgetown, where he also became principal.

“His commitments to Guyana straddled the diverse ethnic and cultural scene.

He married an Amerindian woman, and considered himself a research authority on Hindu culture and Indian civilization. He admired the colony’s ethnic diversity and adopted the new nation of 1966 as his home. Supporting the nation’s dream for dem-

ocratic development and the equality of ethnicities was his personal quest.

“Through those eyes, I came to embrace the wonderful land of a thousand rivers. I know something of its history and culture, including the good and the bad times evident in its turbulent journey to and beyond nationhood. It has been a torn and tortured terrain with divisive seeds sown in the colonial waters that nurture the rich land.

“The determined evidence of the debilitating deployment of ethnic identity as expressions of indigenous nationalism can be seen in far too many places. But, above it all, there is also the compelling story, in the history from sea walls to sugar estates, of commitment to the paramount principle that the will of the people should not be toppled, but respected.

The people have spoken.

And so has the highest court.

“From the 2019-2020 electoral campaign and franchise exercise, their will is now known. With much pain and sacrifice the process has been monitored and reviewed

by CARICOM.” That said, Beckles stressed that the findings of the outcome “should be declared” and implemented.

“There is no other option that will be acceptable to the

region and wider world. The future of the nation is assured with the compliance of State to the popular will,” he said.

The UWI head added, “The regional court is counting on the integrity of the polity to protect the democracy. Fear of the future is not an acceptable explanation for franchise frustration in the present. Ethical conduct, and not ethnic constructs, is expected to rule when democracy is in need of advocacy.

The children of indigenous survivors, the chattel enslaved, the deceived indentured, and others in between, must now converge at the rendezvous of victory. The minority party should stay the course and continue to contribute to the sustainability and maturity of the integrated, multi-racial nation.”

Beckles also stated his support for the positions taken by the urrent and past Heads of CARICOM, the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves and the Honourable Mia Mottley respectively, and with the former Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Owen Arthur, in calling for the official embrace of the evidentiary truth of the election. “Every hour that the celebration of a new day is allowed to sour, the greater will be the tarnish on the varnish of the history of a great nation,” he said.

he Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), The New Movement (TNM) as well as the United Republican Party (URP) – four of the smaller opposition political parties – have called for the immediate dismissal of Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield.

In separate statements the four political parties cited actions from Lowenfield that are aimed at scuttling the conclusion of the March 2, 2020 electoral process, by way of a declaration of final results based on the Certificates of Recount generated by the 34-day national recount exercise.

The LJP said, “The will of the people must be respected and reflected by a declaration using the figures generated from the recount exercise.”

TCI said, “TCI is of the opinion, that with previous elections experience under his belt, the CEO is more than aware of how his job should be done. In light of this background, the CEO’s action can possibly

be construed as insubordinate action against Madame Chair...we posit that Guyana’s constitution in Article 161 A (1) gives the Elections Commission responsibility for the efficient functioning of the Secretariat, and appointment of its officers. The Commission, therefore, has the power to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over such staff. Section 18 of the Election Laws Act No 15 of 2000 stipulates that the CEO is subject to the direction and control of the Commission.”

Further, TNM said, “His very actions has held an entire nation at ransom and snatched the people’s democratic freedom. Mr. Lowenfield has been noted to peddle an erroneous statement in June 2020 saying that he is not bounded by the directives of GECOM but has stated publicly in 2019 that it was GECOM who by constitutional order, instructs him….His (Lowenfield) blatant disrespect has tested our patience but we will not continue to have GECOM let one of their main staff

go rogue anymore. We will reiterate that we firmly believe GECOM needs to act and take stern steps to curb his malicious actions by simply discharging him of his duties. Please act for the people of Guyana, in all justice and fairness. We have had enough. Terminate the services of Lowenfield and declare the results.”

The URP called on the GECOM Chairperson to “get stern with the persistent insolence of Lowenfield and draw on the relevant clauses at her disposal to terminate the services of an individual who continues to hold back the socio-economic, and political fortitude of an entire nation” – so as to allow the country to move forward.

Based on the national recount, which ended on June 9, 2020, there were a total of 460,352 valid votes, of which the PPP/C secured over 233,000 votes – the majority of the votes cast.

The PPP/C, based on the recount results, won the March 2020 Elections at general level by over 15,000 vote and the regional level by over 16,000 votes.

Day 131….

UK calls for GECOM to declare election winner based on national recount

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he United Kingdom (UK), on Saturday (July 11, 2020) repeated its call for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to declare the winner of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, using the results of the national recount.

The UK’s Minister for Sustainable Development and Overseas Territories, Elizabeth Grace Sugg, said, “Guyanese people have waited long enough for election results. Now all legal processes have been completed I urge Guyana Elections Commission to declare a result based on (the) CARICOM scrutinized recount. Every vote must count, all must respect those votes, regardless of the result.”

In a prior comment, Sugg had said that the UK remains

“deeply concerned” about the elections and the subsequent events that followed. On April 20, 2020, she said, “The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned about the elections on 2 March 2020 and the subsequent events that have followed. As you note in your letter, it is the UK's view, and that of other diplomatic colleagues and international observers, that it is impossible for results to be announced in the absence of a credible verification and tabulation process.” According to her, the UK remains deeply concerned about the current political state of affairs in Guyana.

Further, on March 10, 2020 the UK called on the President to preserve the principle of free, fair and credible elections.

Subsequently, on March 24, 2020, UK’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, warned of sanctions and international condemnation. In comments, Raab said, “The transition of government in Guyana should only take place in line with transparent and democratic principles that lead to credible results.

Any government sworn in on the basis of non-credible results will face strong international condemnation.

If the situation continues to deteriorate, this international response will include a range of serious consequences for those concerned. The UK remains ready, along with its partners, to assist in ensuring a credible process that provides the democratic outcome that the Guyanese people deserve.”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Day 132….

Day 133….

Electoral process must be US repeats need for recount concluded using recount results to be respected results – Commonwealth SG T A call for all political actors and stakeholders in Guyana to accept and respect the results of the national recount was made on Sunday (July 12, 2020) by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland.

She stressed that this is quintessential to promote an environment of peace, harmony and social cohesion among all Guyanese.

Scotland said, “I note and welcome the 9 July 2020 statement from the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. The Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, which called on all stakeholders to respect the ruling

of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s final court of appeal.

“In accordance with the applicable laws and the constitution of Guyana, the CCJ exercised its final appellate jurisdiction, and, on 8 July 2020 handed down a clear and unambiguous ruling.

The CCJ stated, ‘It is for GECOM to ensure that the election results are swiftly declared in accordance with the Laws of Guyana’.

“Guyana is a much loved and valued member of the Commonwealth. On behalf of the entire Commonwealth family, I strongly encourage the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to follow the directions given by the CCJ and decisively conclude

the 2 March 2020 elections based on the results of the national recount. The will of the people as expressed in the 2 March 2020 General and Regional Elections must be respected for democracy to prevail in Guyana.”

According to her, Guyana’s destiny as a great nation rests on the shoulders of those men and women who are duty bound to make the right decision, respecting the will of the people and the rule of law, and ready to place their country before their personal ambitions.

“The Commonwealth calls all leaders to be faithful to the common good, so that Guyana’s future may truly be forged today,” Scotland urged.

Day 133….

he position iterated by the Organisation of America States (OAS) was endorsed by the Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs of the United States of America’s State Department, Michael Kozak, on Monday (July 13, 2020).

The OAS had underscored the fact that the peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend democracy.

“We stand with the OAS in calling for respect of the results of the national recount,” Kozak said, reiterating the OAS calls.

Kozak, last month, had stressed that the will of the Guyanese people must not be subverted. He had said, “Guyana’s electorate spoke clearly & respected international observers. We join them in calling for a conclu-

sion to the electoral process in #Guyana & the announcement of a winner.”

Further, last week, in the strongest signal to Guyana yet, authorities in the United States of America (USA) have made it clear that the undermining of democracy in Guyana will not be tolerated.

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on Wednesday (July 1, 2020) said, “It has been four months since Guyana’s elections – long past due for a peaceful transition of power. CARICOM and the OAS have certified the recount result. They should get on with it. I have instructed my Department to ensure those who undermine Guyana’s democracy are held accountable.”

Pompeo had warned on March 17, 2020 that those who seek to benefit from electoral fraud will be subject to serious conse-

quences. In comments about Guyana, during a news conference then, he had said: “The United States is closely monitoring the tabulation of votes in Guyana; the election took place on March 2. We join the OAS, Commonwealth, the EU, CARICOM and other democratic partners in calling for an accurate count…. it is important to note that the individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and to form illegitimate governments, regimes, will be subject to variety of serious consequences from the United States.”

Several representatives from the international community have made clear that a transition of government that is done without transparency, credibility and not in keeping with democratic principles will trigger consequences.

Granger must put country first Day 133….

– USAID rep Lowenfield told to use recount T results in final report or face consequences he will of the Guyanese people must be respected, according to the the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID’s Acting Administrator, John Barsa said, “Democracy requires that statesmen respect the will of the people. We call on Mr. Granger to put Guyana first and assure

a swift and peaceful transition of power to the democratically elected winners of the March 2 elections based on the full recount tabulation.”

In May, Barsa stressed that there are other challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, that demand focus by the democratically elected government.

Day 134….

Dominica PM calls for an end to political situation in Guyana (CMC) — The Dominica Government on Tuesday (July 14, 2020), described as “untenable” the ongoing political situation in Guyana where the country is still awaiting the results of the disputed March 2 regional and general elections.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who was among five Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders who had visited Guyana in a bid to resolve the dispute, said that it was important for the people of the country to know which government had been elected to chart the way forward.

“Guyana's elections were held in March of this year and up to this day they have

not yet been able to declare officially a winner of the elections,” said Skerrit.

He said the CARICOM delegation that was headed

by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who was then CARICOM chairman, thought the matter had been solved after its visit and talks with the various stakeholders.

"But certainly it has not been solved there. They have gone to court many times, the CCJ (Caribbean Court of Justice) has ruled on this matter and my understanding is that there are members of the Electoral Commission who are refusing to attend meetings and the chief elections officer is refusing to follow

the law and the court order.

“Our hope and prayer is that everyone in Guyana will do what is correct, what is right and to bring to an end, the announcement of the long awaited results,” said Skerrit.

He added: "The situation is untenable. I do not want to get involved in any country's domestic issues but just to say that it is important that this election comes to an end and the Guyanese people can go about their business knowing who their legitimate government is and that the efforts to contain COVID and to grow the economy can continue with the government of the people's choosing”.

‒ Fourth time instructions have been issued

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or the fourth time, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), on Monday (July 13, 2020), was instructed to present a final report on the election results using the Certificates of Recount from the national recount process.

This decision was arrived at after GECOM’s Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, held a meeting on Monday (July 13, 2020) to discuss the CEO’s conduct following the submission of a fraudulent report on Saturday (July 11, 2020).

Lowenfield’s deadline was 14:00hours (2:00PM) on Tuesday (July 14, 2020).

Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, explained that the GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh, indicated that her decision to utilise the recount figures was based on paragraph 24 of the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) summary ruling, which states that: “Unless and until an election court decides otherwise,

the votes already counted by the recount process as valid votes are incapable of being declared invalid by any person or authority.”

When asked about whether the CEO understands his direction, Gunraj explained that the Chair was crystal clear in her instructions and even the common man understands what Lowenfield has to do.

He reminded that all the CEO needs to do is to compile his report using the figures that are generated from the recount exercise as are contained in the certificates of tabulation. He would use those figures to assign parliamentary seats to the contesting parties based on the votes acquired.

Further, Justice Singh did signal her intention of utilising Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Meyers if Lowenfield failed to present his report on Tuesday (July 14, 2020).

According to Gunraj, the GECOM Chair also ad-

dressed several submissions from the six Commissioners before adjourning the meeting to Tuesday (July 14, 2020). Among those submissions was that of Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Robeson Benn, who filed a motion to have Lowenfield’s employment terminated owing to his continued acts of insubordination. “In relation to the ruling of the Chairman I am somewhat disappointed that she did not go the complete nine yards and complete this process but has thrown it back into the hands of the CEO who had demonstrated over and over again a very recalcitrant attitude and a trend of defying instructions, specific instructions of the Commission,” he said.

The National Recount figures show that 460,352 valid votes were cast and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won a majority of those votes, leading the APNU+AFC Coalition by over 15,000 votes.

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Day 133….

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Day 134, 135….

Declarations held in abeyance GECOM meeting scuttled by another thrown out, only Certificates of legal action ‒ Oral arguments set for Friday at 2PM expected Recount stand – GECOM Chair Anyto beprogress made at the meet-

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he ten district declarations that were made prior to the National Recount were set aside by the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh, on Monday (July 13, 2020).

These were previously held in abeyance and include the fraudulent report by the Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, on March

13, 2020, which includes manipulated votes.

The GECOM Chair also made clear that the ‘fraudulent reports’ submitted to the Commission by the embattled Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, were set aside too.

Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, said, “The Chair proceeded to say that the March 13 declaration which

included the fraudulent declaration by the Returning Officer of Region Four has been set aside and replaced by the recount tabulation certificates. That, I believe, is an important finding and ruling of the Chairman.”

The meeting, intended to address the finalising of election results, saw was adjourned to Tuesday (July 14, 2020), without completing its intended task.

Latest court action features expectation for endorsement of electoral fraud – Jagdeo

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he court action filed by the APNU+AFC Coalition’s Misenga Jones represents a “shameful” abuse of the judicial process, according to General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo.

In a virtual news briefing on Tuesday (July 14, 2020), he said, “They went to ask the Court to Order that the Commission must use Lowenfield’s report…which contains Mingo’s fraudulent figure… they are asking the Court to say that a statutory officer’s advice which is false must be used and that the Commission has no power to Order anything different… this is what they expect the court to endorse, fraud, to endorse electoral fraud. “…they are asking the court to allow the use of fraudulent numbers to declare the results of the elections based on, in their view, some technicality. “…the APNU+AFC are basically asking the court to endorse fraudulent numbers for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to make a declaration of the March 2 General and Regional Elections. They expect the court to endorse electoral fraud. “…APNU has a way of misinterpreting, deliberately so, every judgment of the Court and anything that comes out in the public domain to suit their narrative….they expect the (High) Court in Guyana to say ‘Yes! You can use that report, although it has fraudulent numbers…this is what they expect the Court to endorse, electoral fraud.”

Jones in her action essentially wants to the High Court to set aside the results of the national recount and compel GECOM to swear in a president using the July 11, 2020 report of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield.

Jagdeo stressed that the

court cannot instruct GECOM on what to do, since it is a constitutional body. He added that GECOM, also, as a constitutional body cannot be held hostage by a single person, Lowenfield, who is a statutory officer.

He said, “The CCJ President, Justice Saunders, could not have been any clearer, when in his summary of the judgement…he made it clear that unless an elections court, though a petition, were to invalidate the votes that were counted in the recount process…that no person or authority in Guyana could do so.

So he was clear that the votes counted in the recount process could not be invalidated by GECOM, nor Lowenfield. “…they are saying that a statutory officer’s advice, which is fabricated, false, which has no basis in reality, which is grounded in fraud, that that must be used to declare the results of the elections, and that the Commission has no power to alter that report or to do anything different.”

JULY 11TH REPORT The July 11th report from Lowenfield, stated that the valid votes cast were 475,118 votes. Of those he assigned the APNU+AFC Coalition with 236,777 votes and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) with 229, 330 votes.

On the total valid votes reported by Lowenfield, Jagdeo said, “Incredibly the same Lowenfield has now produced a report to GECOM to say that 475,000 people voted…15,000 votes more than are actually in the box[es], that APNU won these elections and he expects the court in Guyana to say, yes you can use that report although it has fraudulent numbers.”

Lowenfield’s July 11th numbers are not those that were reflected on the comple-

tion of the national recount.

Lowenfield’s July 11th numbers for Region 4 mirror Clairmont Mingo’s fraudulent March 13th numbers, which at the end of the national recount were exposed as such. The national recount showed that Mingo increased votes for the APNU+AFC Coalition and decreased votes for the PPP/C. GLOBAL SUPPORT Further, the PPP General Secretary noted that Guyanese have the support of civil society and all the opposition political parties, as well as the regional and international community.

He charged that the “tiny cabal” bent on taking Guyanese down a regressive path will not be allowed to do so.

As such, Jagdeo stressed that the struggle continues. “We are not giving up the fight,” he said.

On that note, he added that the PPP will not be irresponsible to risk the lives of Guyanese, during the COVID-19 pandemic, by taking to the streets. He said, “They have people who go before GECOM. Do you think we can’t put out numbers in the streets? We can put out fifty times the numbers they have on the street. But we know it’s not right. It is putting people at risk. And there’s another way of solving this.”

Jagdeo also appealed for patience, moving forward. “I know people are extremely disappointed. They are asking me when this will come to an end… the end has to be a lawful end. An end that reflects the will of the people. Or else it will not have legitimacy and will destroy this country further. The international community has made it clear that they did not support any declaration on the basis of Mingo’s numbers and any President sworn in on those results would face consequences,” he declared.

ing of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) meeting, on Tuesday (July 14, 2020) was scuttled by the filing of yet another court challenge, an hour before the meeting was scheduled to commence at 14:00hours (2:00PM).

A fixed date application was filed by Attorney-at-Law, Mayo Robertson, on behalf of Misenga Jones, a Tucville, Georgetown, resident, who was also a polling agent for the APNU+AFC Coalition on Election Day. It essentially seeks to have the recount results discarded.

NEW CHALLENGE The action lists GECOM, the Chair of GECOM, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) and the Attorney General as the respondents.

The 46-page court document that was filed calls for over 20 declarations from the High Court.

The declarations, among others, which are being sought include that: • GECOM did not comply with the Constitution with regard to the March 2020 Elections; • GECOM did not act on the advice of the Chief Elections Officer and declare an election winner based on the his July 11, 2020 report – a report that included proven fraudulent election results for Region 4; • GECOM must act on the advice of the CEO to swear in a president; and that • The votes counted in the national recount are invalid.

Jones is also seeking several other orders from the Court.

NO REPORT Meanwhile, in what has become a pattern, Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, has once again failed to execute the directions of the Guyana Elections Commission and present his final elections report using the numbers from the National Recount.

Lowenfield was expected to submit his final elections report to the GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, using the numbers from the National Recount at 14:00h on Tuesday (July 14, 2020).

Opposition-nominated Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, charged that Lowenfield is stalling, since no injunction or any orders have been granted by the court, which would prevent him from pre-

The Statement of Poll signed by Jones, who acted as a polling agent for the Coalition on Election Day

senting his report. “In this case, there is no injunction granted. So obviously there is nothing stopping (the CEO from presenting his report).

Even as an officer of the court it does not stop me. I do not hold any greater brief because something was filed.

If every single day I want something stopped then I would just file something,” he noted.

Gunraj disclosed too that Lowenfield, when pressed, refused to even tell the Commission if he prepared the report or not.

The APNU+AFC Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners, according to Gunraj, instructed Lowenfield not to respond to queries being made of him. “This inquiry which was made by members on my side of the Commission was met by at least one member of the Commission saying to the CEO that he doesn’t have to answer to us. Well if he doesn’t have to answer to the Commission then I don’t know who he has to answer to,” he said.

WALKOUT Further, APNU+AFC Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners walked out of Tuesday’s meeting.

Owing to the walkout, Tuesday’s meeting was once again adjourned owing to the lack of a quorum.

They reportedly argued that the GECOM Chair that she has set a precedent of putting aside the Commission’s business once legal actions have been filed. “The practice of the Chairman has always been that our business is held in abeyance until the determination of that matter. In fact, when the matter has been determined in the court, she always insist that we await the written judgment before we proceed,” said Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Charles Corbin.

CASE MANAGEMENT HEARING Further, acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire, convened a case management hearing on Wednesday (July 15, 2020).

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), represented by Senior Counsel, Douglas Mendes, and other opposition political parties applied to be joined to the proceedings and were approved to do so.

According to George-Wiltshire, all parties in the case are expected to file their relevant submissions before Friday (July 17, 2020) at 14:00hours (2:00PM).

There are several issues, according to her, that have to be addressed, including whether the High Court has jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Chief Justice charged that the “nub” of the issue was whether Order 60 governing the national recount of votes from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections was “valid and is valid to permit the declaration” from the March 2nd 2020 elections based on the recount.

Also, according to her, a tangential issue would be whether 10 declarations of elections results by the Returning Officers, including the fraudulent March 13th declaration by the Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, should be set aside or retained.

Additionally, an undertaken was given by Attorney-at-law Kim Kyte-Thomas on behalf of the GECOM Chair, (retired) Justice Claudette Singh, that the Commission will not make any declaration or decisions during the course of the proceedings.

Oral arguments in this matter commence on Friday (July 17, 2020) in the High Court at 14:00hours and a ruling is expected to be made on Sunday (July 19, 2020).

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Personal sanctions hit…

Granger gov’t must respect election results, step aside – Pompeo V

isa restrictions were announced by the United States of America’s (USA) Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on Wednesday (July 15, 2020), making good on promised of action against those involved in undermining democracy in Guyana.

The visa restrictions are reported to affect APNU+AFC Coalition officials, officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Coalition’s campaign financiers, including Brian Tiwarie.

Pompeo, who made the announcement during a news conference, said, “Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on individuals who have been responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Guyana.

Immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.

The Granger government must respect the results of democratic elections and step aside.”

On July 1, 2020, Pompeo disclosed that he issued instructions to the State Department to pursue actions against that will hold accountable those who are undermining democracy in Guyana.

Further, in a statement on the State Department’s website, the US Secretary said,

“On March 2 the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana held national elections, but it has still not declared a winner. All international observers of the vote count agreed that the manner in which votes were tabulated departed from established procedures. They unanimously agreed that a result based on these procedures would not be credible. The Organization of American States and Caribbean Community concluded that the recount of votes, which concluded on June 7 and showed a victory for the opposition, reflected the will of the Guyanese people. Unfortunately, Guyana’s leaders have refused to accept this result. “...in my public statements since the election I have been very clear that the United States stands with the Guyanese people and that there would be consequences for individuals who seek to undermine democracy.

The events following the March 2 elections indicate that there are forces that have repeatedly refused to accept the will of the people at the ballot box. Guyana’s non-democratic trajectory is dangerous for its citizens and for the hemisphere as a whole. I hope that Guyana’s leaders understand what is at stake if they continue down this path.”

Pompeo stressed the move is not about interference; rather it is about sending a clear signal to those engaged in undermining democracy. “This action is not about interference. It is to send a clear message of the consequences of subverting democracy and the rule of law, which poses a danger to us and our hemispheric partners. We have long said that we have no preference for a winning party, as long as it is selected through a free and fair electoral process that is credible,” the US Secretary of State said.

Since March 17, 2020, the US Secretary of State warned that those who seek to benefit from electoral fraud will be subject to serious consequences. In comments about Guyana, during a news conference then, he had said: “The United States is closely monitoring the tabulation of votes in Guyana; the election took place on March 2. We join the OAS, Commonwealth, the EU, CARICOM and other democratic partners in calling for an accurate count…. it is important to note that the individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and to form illegitimate governments, regimes, will be subject to variety of serious consequences from the United States.”

Long past time for democratic transition of gov’t – Senate Foreign Relations Committee

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he Chairman of the United States of America’s (USA) Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch (Republican-Idaho), welcomed the imposition of personal sanctions by the US State Department against those subverting the will of the Guyanese people.

“I applaud the State Department’s actions today to hold accountable Guyanese officials who have undermined democracy & delayed results from #Guyana’s March elections.

It's long past time Guyanese authorities begin a democratic transition of power that reflects the confirmed results,” Risch said on Wednesday (July 15, 2020).

On June 26, 2020, bipartisan members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee called for a declaration of election results based on the recount of the ballots cast at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional

Elections.

The call came from U.S. Senators Risch; Bob Menendez (Democrat-N.J.); Marco Rubio (Republican-Fla.); and Ben Cardin (Democrat-Md.), chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues.

In a statement on Friday (June 26, 2020), the Senators said: “Nearly four months since their national election, the Guyanese people are still waiting for an official result following the general and regional elections in their nation.

This is unacceptable. We share in the frustration expressed by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of American States (OAS), and other international stakeholders, and call on the Guyanese authorities to issue an official election declaration that reflects

the results of the March 2nd election which were confirmed in the official recount by CARICOM’s observer mission.

“Recent reports suggest questionable maneuvers by interested parties designed to continue forestalling a final declaration of results, which members of the press say indicates a defeat for the incumbent government. President Granger should honor the will of the Guyanese people and concede.”

The US Senators stressed there must be a move by Guyanese authorities to begin a democratic transition of power that reflects the results of the March 2nd general and regional elections.

Notably, on May 12, 2020, Risch, Menendez, Rubio, and Cardin led several colleagues in a letter to President Granger encouraging a free, fair, and transparent recount of the presidential election.

WARNING IN MAY In May 2020, the Director of Caribbean Affairs of the Western Hemisphere, Katherine Dueholm, addressed the issue of sanctions and made clear that sanctions against persons who “participate in or benefit from electoral fraud” was on the cards.

“We were very clear that what we were talking about was anyone who sought to participate in or benefit from electoral fraud or form any illegitimate government on this basis. We are not taking about any person that seeks to install a particular party, we are taking about people that seek to participate in or benefit from electoral fraud. “…we have certain tools that are available to us, that have been used in other countries, in situations where governments were formed on the basis of electoral fraud…we felt it was important for us to signal to all involved in the process in Guyana that we were seriously following the issue, that we were willing to use the tools that are available should the situation require.”

According to her, the US State Department has already “gone down the road” of addressing what personal sanctions could be rolled out. She said, “We remain

prepared to use the tools necessary of individuals or groups try to democratic process. We are not going to stand idly by where people try to make that happen. “…we have gone down the road, a pretty good distance, at what we might deploy. We have put that on hold for the moment as we enter the recount phase…on the presumption that from here on out we are going to have a democratic process, we are not proceeding any further with those type of actions, but they remain available tools.”

Dueholm explained that the personal sanctions will range from visa restrictions to financial measures. “If we do have to consider sanctions, there are a number of tools available to the US government and they range from visa restrictions to any number of financial measures…if we do come out with sanctions at some point, which we hope we will not need to do, that they will have been based on a solid factual case on interference in the elections with an intent to produce a fraudulent result,” she said.

Dueholm also made it clear that there is no shift is US foreign policy, when it comes to Guyana. “We are pro-democracy and sometimes people like the way

that shapes out because it favours their side and sometimes they don’t. This helps to illustrate that why some of the positions that we have taken may be not in keeping what they would hope to see, but it is in keeping with supporting the process of democracy.”

According to her, the US has no preference on the outcome of this process, only that it represents the views of the Guyanese people. “The US government has worked closely with Guyana for decades…we will continue to work with whatever government comes in for the mutual security of our countries.”

Over the past few months, top US officials have remain engaged on the developments with Guyana’s electoral process and made several public comments calling for the democratic transition of government.

UK moving to impose sanctions against Coalition, election officials

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he United Kingdom (UK) is advancing efforts that will see the imposition of sanctions against APNU+AFC Coalition officials, as well as persons within the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Secretariat, among others, for undermining democracy in Guyana.

Public reports indicate that the sanctions by the UK will mirror those already imposed by the United State of America (USA) and will take immediate effect once they are announced.

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, since April 30, 2020 had warned that any other move would result in “consequences”

for those who are complicit in thwarting the democratic process.

Quinn said, “We (Guyana and England) share the same values on democracy and good governance and it is important that we uphold those values....here we are eight weeks later and we still do not have a resolution. I don’t think that is good for anybody…we need to get to a credible resolution of this issue.”

On March 10, 2020 the UK called on the President to preserve the principle of free, fair and credible elections.

Subsequently, on March 24, 2020, UK’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who

warned of sanctions and international condemnation. In comments, Raab said, “The transition of government in Guyana should only take place in line with transparent and democratic principles that lead to credible results.

Any government sworn in on the basis of non-credible results will face strong international condemnation.

If the situation continues to deteriorate, this international response will include a range of serious consequences for those concerned. The UK remains ready, along with its partners, to assist in ensuring a credible process that provides the democratic outcome that the Guyanese people deserve.”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Coalition’s actions have hurt Guyana

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uyanese have undoubtedly been witness to actions that can only be described as a show of naked

dishonesty and corruption, all aimed at stealing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and subverting

DEVIN SINGH (TRAINEE SOLICITOR) said: “As an independent country that has not had a functioning Parliament in over a year, a few words come to mind to describe to current situation in Guyana, but one that sums up the current state of affairs is ‘travesty’.

“Over the past four months we have seen a fragrant disregard for the rule of law and the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) are tantamount to contempt and even treason.

The actions of the Coalition lack integrity and common sense and are leading Guyana down a destructive path.

“Our country has been hurt for over four long months, at a time when we should have been one of the fastest developing countries in the hemisphere. Take a look at the faces of the average Guyanese who have not only suffered through COVID-19, but had to suffer through the needs of one group of selfish people who refuse to relinquish power and respect the democratic will of the people. It is despicable to say the least. Pure greed by a few has landed us to where we are today. If COVID-19 does not devastate our society, the masterminds of this ‘coup d’état’ surely will.”

NARESH SUGRIM (PHLEBOTOMIST) said: “A sense of incredulity still lies within my infuriated psyche that, after 130-plus days, a declaration cannot be made to appoint a government to move this country forward.

“In such pivotal times in the 21st century, we need leaders to demonstrate that they can operate beyond the fortress of ignorance and will not condone the dishonesty or the profound disrespect that we have seen.

This is the time to be true to justice and to aspire to see democracy prosper. This is not the time for desperation in holding onto power.

“The blatant attempt to steal our future as Guyanese, our rights as human beings and our democracy which was fought for by honorable patriots, is a violation of the highest order. We need leaders who are willing to risk their power and voices so that ours' can be heard. Since freedom is bigger than power, the actions we have seen can never be accepted. If it is, then the rights of all Guyanese are affected.”

the will of the majority of Guyanese.

This week, the Mirror Newspaper questioned views

on the actions of those complicit in this objectionable undertaking. The general consensus was that the un-

QUINCY ANDERSON (BUSINESSMAN) said: “Over the past four months, Guyanese have been force to endure a series of ungodly, unlawful, and undemocratic entanglements.

“It is clear that based on the figures from the original Statements of Polls and from the Statements of Recount, as well as the final Certificates of Recount, that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. The dark forces encamped within APNU+AFC, are using their loyal disciples within the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Secretariat and the Commission to blatantly manipulate the elections result.

“Enough is enough. It is time for the rightfully elected government to take office.”

PHILEENA PEREIRA-JARDINE (TEACHER) said: “It is without doubt that since December 2018 we have witnessed the atrocities being perpetrated by the APNU+AFC on Guyana.

“Beginning with the no-confidence motion, the disregard for the rule of law was clear.

According to the constitution, elections were supposed to be held three (3) months after the no-confidence motion was successfully passed. It took David Granger and his cabal more than a year to dissolve Parliament and announce a date for the election (March 2, 2020).

“Immediately after the election, deceit and dishonesty descended upon our nation. Ironically, they promoted honesty and decency in their campaign. The March 2nd Election Statements of Poll (SOPs) clearly showed that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) won the elections – setting into motion the Coalition riggers’ attempts to manipulate the election result.

“The APNU/AFC along with their cohorts in GECOM Secretariat have devised one ridiculous plan after another in order to deny the will of the Guyanese people and undermine democracy. It is a well-established fact that the local observers, CARICOM, OAS, European Union, Commonwealth, Carter Center, the ABCE countries and to a larger extent, the world, have all seen through the lies and authoritarian attitude of the rigging cabal. They have done much harm to our nation in a small space of time.”

democratic ‘entanglements’ that the APNU+AFC Coalition would have Guyanese tied up will only lead the

people and country down a destructive and regressive path.

DIMITRI ALI (CITY COUNCILLOR/CIVIL ENGINEER) said: “The whole world is against the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. The ABCE countries, Commonwealth, the OAS, the Carter Center, CARICOM, and 233,336 valid voters have spoken against this de facto Government which refused to allow the democratic will of the people to prevail.

“The World’s eye is on Guyana. Coalition leader, David Granger, does not understand that his game of deception and his rejection of the views of the international community will have long lasting stain on Guyana. We are supposed to respect the core principle of democratic rights, based on the many global Charters we have signed on to. The 1997, Chartered Civil Society for the Caribbean Community that we signed on to, on page 5, was set up to deal with issues such as “a fair and open democratic process” and respect to the fundamental political rights. Further, growth cannot, in any part of the world, succeed under a regime that does not respect a democratic transition of power.

“All the above mentioned is to say that the Granger, in his attempts to steal an election, has caused a major setback for Guyana.

Granger will go down in world history as a man who has brought great dishonor to his presidency.”

DEVINDRA MIRANJIE (ACCOUNTANT) said: “Being a professional accountant we honour the codes of ethics and display values of high integrity. This principle applies to most all professions, most of all to those in the political arena.

“The APNU+AFC Coalition have under mined this principle and abused every process to deny the will of the people. In the future, changes, including Constitutional reform, will be needed to ensure there is no repeat of the events we have seen in the last 18 months and to ensure that offenders are held accountable.”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

and the collective future of Guyanese COLLIN AARON (SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR) said: “The October 1992 saw not only the first free and fair elections in decades, but also the restoration of democracy.

“I rebuke President David Granger and his cabal’s ‘strongman politics’ in trying to reintroduce full blown election rigging in this day and age, via its glaring attempts to maintain power and undermine the democracy that was hard-won. The APNU+AFC Coalition’s effort to cling to power sees it undermining every institution or norm that gives democracy meaning.

“It is very clear to the all that APNU+AFC Coalition lost these elections and refusing to give up power with unsupportive claims of voting irregularities, which only surfaced during the National Recount, and after the Coalition had claimed they won these elections. It is my honest opinion, having followed all the events from March 2, 2020 to date, that Guyanese have underestimated the Coalition leader’s deceit and his deceitfulness.”

VASHTI NARINE (TEACHER) said: “In less than two weeks, it will be five months since the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and the APNU+AFC Coalition and its agenda have been unmasked for all of Guyana – the Coalition failed to measure up to its ‘big talk’ on the campaign trail about honesty and decency, and its agenda has power as the singular focus, not the Guyanese people.

“The actions of those complicit in the dishonesty and indecency, all while trying to illegally hold on the executive power, have hurt Guyana and the Guyanese people. What has also been exposed is that the hurt inflicted is done without remorse or concern. These are not the actions of true leaders.

“True leaders respect the democratic will of the majority of the people. True leaders take actions that will ensure the collective progress of a nation’s people. Guyanese have suffered the consequences of incompetence and corruption for five year under the APNU+AFC Coalition.

The people are being made to suffer worse, currently, more so given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. What kind of leaders ignore the reality of a nation’s people? Guyanese can ill-afford to continue like this.

“It is time enough. The will of the people must be respected. The democratic process cannot be thwarted. Our country and our people deserve better.”

VISHAL AMBEDKAR (TEACHER) said: “The recent acts of dishonesty and corruption – all aimed at subverting the will of the majority and at stealing the elections – expose the true nature of the APNU+AFC Coalition.

“These actions have resulted in a country being held hostage by a cabal willing to hold on to power at all costs.

The only truth is that democracy must prevail and the will of the Guyanese people must be respected.

“Our country and our people cannot have our collective futures compromised by a tiny band of ‘merry old men’ who have demonstrated that their focus is self-interest, not the interest of the country or the people.”

SHELLENE MATTERSON (POLITICAL ACTIVIST) said: “Guyanese voted for the government that would work for them and, by extension, for the country. Instead of a credible conclusion of the electoral process, Guyanese have faced over 135 days of stress and strain, because of the APNU+AFC Coalition’s attempts to undermine the democratic will of the majority of Guyanese.

“The results of the March 2020 Elections are clear. The national recount made those results clearer. No attempt to manipulate the results will be accepted. No attempt to disenfranchise thousands of Guyanese will be accepted. The blatant election thievery, in full view of the world, is unacceptable.

“The actions of the APNU+AFC Coalition have hurt our nation solely because self-interest was the primary focus, not the country, nor the Guyanese people. Our Democracy will not be snatched away from the people of Guyana and this is something that the Coalition must understand.”

JUAN EDGHILL JR. (BUSINESS CONSULTANT) said: “Two terms come to mind in reviewing the actions of the APNU+AFC Coalition: one, poor leadership; and, two, weak morals.

“The leadership of the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition has been extremely selfish, reckless and rogue in their words and actions, even defying human logic and comprehension. This has caused their supporters to be intentionally misguided on who are the real riggers in these Elections. We have witnessed repeatedly the APNU+AFC Coalition leadership stirring up their supporters to curse and insult respectable local, regional and international actors who have called out the Coalition for its ongoing efforts at electoral theft and fraud. These actions of poor leadership are plainly repulsive.

“Added to that, many have remained cozy and safe in their homes receiving their full salaries, while many of their own supporters are on the breadline. The Coalition knew since March 2, 2020 that they lost the Elections, but have refused to concede gracefully. We are not about the five-month mark since our Elections and APNU+AFC still have not produced their copies of GECOM-issued Statements of Poll, which they said matched those of Clairmont Mingo's fraudulent declarations. My bet is that we will never see those documents because it proves they lost. This is nothing but indecent and dishonest behavior.

“Further, the moral compass of the leaders in APNU+AFC seems to have disappeared. It is not broken; rather it just no longer exists. The have blinded their eyes to any course of action based on truth, honesty and integrity. They have proven that they will do anything it takes to hang on to power.

“Their actions so far have risked Guyana being isolated from the international community; risked Guyana being expelled from regional and international organizations, which help to promote our national interests; and have risked up being separated from the global fold of democratic nations.

“We must join together as sons and daughters of Guyana, who want to see democracy thrive.

The Coalition’s actions have been evil, but the good forces in Guyana can and will conquer the bad forces. History, democracy, time and the world is on our side.”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Results from recount of votes from March 2, 2020 elections (Numbers based on the completed and signed Certificates of Recount as of June 9, 2020)

Comparison of votes secured by PPP/C and APNU+AFC

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Delay in conclusion of electoral process a ‘threat to stability’ – Brazil

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uyana’s neighbour and fellow member of MERCOSUR, the largest regional trade blocs in Latin America, has warned about the “threat to stability” posed by the continued delays in the finalization of the electoral process.

In a statement on Wednesday (July 15, 2020), Brazil said, “The Brazilian government has been following closely the developments in the general and regional elections held in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on March 2 of this year.

“Four months after the election, the Brazilian government considers that delaying the conclusion of the electoral process poses

a serious threat to stability in Guyana and a departure from the democratic commitments that the country must observe in the regional and hemispheric context.

“The Brazilian government calls on Guyanese political forces to respect the popular will emanating from the elections, in line with the recent sentence of the Caribbean Court of Justice, in order to guarantee the prompt official announcement of the country’s new representatives.”

Further, the Brazilian government made clear that it endorses the conclusions of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) electoral observation mission regarding the smoothness of

the national recount. It also endorsed the calls made by CARICOM, and the Organization of American States for the conclusion of the electoral process.

“Brazil adds to the statements of CARICOM, the OAS, the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, pointing out the absence of impediments to the declaration of final results based on the votes cast in the recount process.

The Brazilian government calls on Guyana, an Associated State of MERCOSUR, to remain among the South American nations committed to the highest democratic principles,” the neighbouring state stressed.

Guyana’s situation now on OAS Permanent Council’s agenda

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nternational pressure from the Organisation of the American States (OAS) has been upped by the Secretary General, Luis Almagro, and Guyana’s political situation will now be addressed by the OAS Permanent Council.

Almagro has requested the Chair of the Permanent Council, Luis Fernando Cordero Montoya, to convene a meeting with the aim of addressing the electoral situation in Guyana.

Addressing the Chair, Almagro said, “I have the honour of addressing Your Excellency to request your support in calling a meeting of the Permanent Council to deal with the situation of the electoral process in Guyana.”

Referring to the move, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, earlier this week, noted that the David

Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition seem clueless when it comes to understanding the significance of Almagro’s move. “If Granger understands what this means, he will think twice about sabotaging a democratic declaration of election results,” Jagdeo said.

Notably, the Permanent Council is one of the two main political bodies of the organisation, along with the OAS General Assembly, which is responsible for the maintenance of friendly relations among the member states.

Guyana signed on to the Inter American Democratic Charter in 2001, which states that: “The peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.”

The OAS – an international continental organ-

isation of which Guyana is a member – had firmly asserted that only the national recount results can form the basis for a final declaration of the count r y ’ s p r e s i d e n t i a l e l e ctions.

Further, the OAS – which fielded an electoral observer mission for Guyana’s March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections – had harsh words for those who are acting against the interest of democracy, saying that it is past time for the newly elected Government to assume executive office.

The certified results from the national recount exercise supervised by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) had shown that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2020 Elections with 233,336 votes.

‘All tools’ available will be used against those preventing conclusion of electoral process – Canada

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anada’s Global Affairs department, on Wednesday (July 15, 2020), warned that it will use “all tools” at its disposal to hold accountable all those who prevent the “swift and transparent” conclusion of the election process in Guyana.

In a statement, it said, “Canada strongly regrets the extended delay in declaring election results in Guyana, a delay that has now lasted more than four months since elections were held on March 2.

“We support calls by the Organization of American States, the Caribbean Com-

munity [CARICOM], the Commonwealth, the Caribbean Court of Justice and civil society organizations to announce the results based on the national recount, as validated by the CARICOM observer mission.

“In the interest of the democratic rights of the people of Guyana, Canada firmly maintains that the rule of law and democratic processes must be respected and a declaration be announced without further delay.

“Canada will continue to work with its partners in the international community, using all tools at our

disposal, to demand a swift and transparent conclusion to the election process and hold accountable those who prevent it.”

As recent as last week, on July 8, 2020, Canada’s Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas at Global Affairs, Michael Grant warned that the legitimacy of the government of Guyana depends on credibly declared results from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The international community has been clear on the consequences that would follow if democracy was derailed in Guyana.

PNCR-led Coalition focused on ensuring PPP does not take office – Norton

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gnoring the democratic will of the Guyanese people and despite increasing pressure from civil society, as well as from the regional and international community, the latter feature personal sanctions, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC) led APNU+AFC Coalition is standing its ground.

Following the imposition of visa restrictions by the United States of America (USA) and indications of similar moves by the United Kingdom and Canada, PNCR member and Coalition spokesman, Aubrey Norton, said the Coalition is not afraid. “I don’t think that the leadership of the APNU+AFC is afraid of sanctions…you have Mr. Pompeo making threats. I believe our cause is just,”

Norton said on Wednesday (July 15, 2020).

Failing to acknowledge the democratic will of the Guyanese people, evidenced by the results of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, as well as the results of the national recount, Norton said, “I believe we must stay focussed on ensuring the People’s Progressive Party doesn’t come to power.”

Meanwhile, the David Granger-led Coalition, in a statement, said his de facto government has not participated in the undermining of the electoral process in Guyana; rather any moves made have been advanced by officials of GECOM. “The Executive Branch has not participated in the undermining of the electoral process

and urges all countries interested in Guyana’s development to await the logical conclusion of the process which is being managed by the Elections Commission, in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana,” the de facto government said.

To date, the USA, UK, Canada, European Union and several other countries have called for Granger to respect the results of the national recount and allow for a democratic transition of government. Similar calls have been made by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth.

[SEE PAGE 14 FOR THE RESULTS OF THE NATIONAL RECOUNT PROCESS]

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Positions from Freedom House this week (A look at the latest statements made by the People’s Progressive Party)

GECOM has constitutional mandate to dismiss Lowenfield for his fraudulent conduct

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n what may possibly be his final fraudulent act, Keith Lowenfield has presented another perverse Report to the Guyana Election Commission, this time using Clairmont Mingo’s fictitious results for Electoral District number four (4).

This is exactly what the Rigging Cabal has been calling for since Mingo made his fraudulent declarations on March 5th and March 13th, 2020. The Rigging Cabal, including the Government’s three (3) Commissioners at GECOM, are now shamelessly arguing that the Caribbean Court of Justice in its Judgment in the Eslyn David case, invalidated the Recount Order and the Re-

count Process. Of course, the Judgment contains no such pronouncement. In fact, the Court thoroughly examined the Recount Order and endorsed the Recount Process, making it clear throughout the Judgment that it is the results produced by the Recount Process that must be used by the Chief Elections Officer.

The only Orders granted by the Caribbean Court of Justice are as follows: “ (a) Special leave is granted to the Applicants to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal dated 22 June 2020; (b) The Appeal of the Appellant is allowed; and (c) The said decision of

the Court Of Appeal was made without jurisdiction, is invalid and of no effect.

The Court declares that the report of the Chief Elections Officer of 23 June 2020 is similarly of no effect.”

Therefore, only a demented mind can interpret the Caribbean Court of Justice’s ruling as invalidating the National Recount Process.

Lowenfield’s conduct not only amounts to gross insubordination and an egregious dereliction of his duty but his report constitutes intentional fraud in that he included numbers which he knows to be fraudulent and fictitious. For example, he tabulated the ten (10) Cer-

Granger is the intellectual author, in charge of the conspiracy to rig elections

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he Statement issued by the Government of Guyana, in response to the decision by the United States Department of State, is classic David Granger at work.

Guyanese are well aware of the deceptive strategy of Granger, that is to say, remaining in the background and orchestrating his minions, including Ministers of his Government, candidates and leaders of his political party, his Commissioners at GECOM and even his party supporters, to front his unconstitutional, undemocratic, illegal and sinister political agenda, and when they are exposed, he appears in the public with a glib denial of any wrongdoing and repeats his sanctimonious pledge to obey the Constitution, to adhere to the rule of law, to comply with Court rulings and to promise non-interference with the operation at GECOM. This is exactly the approach reflected in the Government’s Statement issued today.

The Statement denies that the Coalition Govern-

ment is undermining the electoral process and urges all “to await the logical conclusion of it, which is being managed by the Elections Commission, in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana”.

Guyana, the Caribbean and indeed, the Western Hemisphere can bear testimony, first hand, to Granger and his Government’s multiple, transparent and vulgar attempts at undermining the electoral process and interfering with GECOM in the discharge of its mandate in conducting elections and declaring the legal results of those elections.

Only yesterday one of his minions filed legal proceedings seeking Orders from the High Court to compel GECOM to declare perverted results of the elections, so that Granger can steal the next Government.

No doubt, Mr. Granger is the intellectual author and is in charge of the conspiracy to rig the March 2nd 2020 Election.

Not once has he condemned the naked fraud attempted

by Clairmont Mingo and Keith Lowenfield. In fact, he and his Ministers have all embraced them and they still do.

Every one of his Ministers are on record, in Guyana and overseas, canvassing support for their blatant attempts to corrupt the electoral process and defending those who are directly carrying out this illicit design.

These Ministers include Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Joseph Harmon, Raphael Trotman, Cathy Hughes, Khemraj Ramjattan and others. They have all hurled vitriolic abuses at every person and organisation, locally, regionally and internationally, who dared to criticize their conduct.

These sanctions were long intimated. Granger and his Cabal mocked those who spoke of them. Now that the sanctions have finally come, he sanctimoniously pleads his and his Government’s innocence. Everyone acquainted with the facts would agree that the sanctions are justified, in the circumstances. (July 15, 2020)

tificates of Recount and submitted in a previous Report to the Commission 460,352 as the total valid votes cast and in the fraudulent Report now submitted to the Commission, he states that the total number of valid votes is 479,118, a difference of nearly twenty thousand votes, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Article 162(1)(b) of the Constitution adequately empowers the Commission to, “issue such instructions and take such actions as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provision of this Constitution or any Act of Parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with” the Electoral Process.

Further, Article 161 (a) provides, “the Elections Commission shall be responsible for the efficient functioning of the Secre-

tariat of the Commission, which shall comprise the officers and employees of the Commission, and for the appointment of all the staff to the offices thereof inclusive of all temporary staff, recruited for the purposes of boundary demarcation, registrations of persons and elections and shall have the power to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over such staff.”

The Representation of the People Act defines an Election Officer as: “ (a) the Chief Election Officer; (b) the Deputy Chief Election Officer; (c) a returning officer; (d) a deputy returning officer; (e) an election clerk; (f) a presiding officer; (g) a poll clerk.”

Therefore, GECOM has a constitutional mandate and duty to dismiss Lowenfield forthwith, for his fraudulent conduct, his dereliction from duty and his vile insubordination and to immediately

appoint another Chief Elections Officer to carry out its directions contained in its various letters to Lowenfield.

Our information is that the Rigging Cabal is actively Judge shopping in their efforts to get some form of judicial assistance to execute their illegal, fraudulent design to defeat the will of the Electorate and steal the next Government. No Court can direct the Commission on how to perform its functions nor can usurp the functions of the Commission, once the Commission acts intra vires its constitutional mandate.

We call upon the Judiciary not to allow its processes to be abused and manipulated to perpetrate a fraud upon the Guyanese Electorate.

The highest Court in our Judiciary has pronounced on this matter and concluded its Judgment with the following words, “Now the law must run its course.” (July 11, 2020)

Ballot Box Martyrs’ sacrifices still relevant today T oday (July 16, 2020), marks the 47th death anniversary of two sons of Guyana – Jagan Ramessar and Bholanauth Parmanand – the ‘Ballot Box Martyrs’ who lost their lives in the struggle to ensure that democracy is not thwarted and the will of the Guyanese people is not subverted.

On Election Day, July 16, 1973, Bholanauth and Ramessar were part of a crowd that had gathered outside a polling station at No. 63 Village on the Corentyne as part of a protest action.

They were peacefully protesting the illegal removal of the ballot boxes from the place of poll at the end of voting. Bholanauth and Ramessar were shot and killed by a Guyana Defence Force Officer. This was during

an era when the oppressive and authoritarian People’s National Congress’ (PNC) regime was brazenly rigging elections to stay in office.

The 1973 incident was of the many struggles to restore democracy to Guyana. These martyrs, by their sacrifice, helped to shaped our political struggle that led to free and fair elections in 1992.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) notes that the sacrifices of those two courageous and young heroes have strengthened the resolve of Guyanese during the painful and arduous struggles for democracy and remain a reminder of the work needed to preserve our hard-won gains. Such a reminder comes at a time when the PNC, disguised

as APNU+AFC Coalition, shamelessly persists with its effort to hold on to power, despite the expressed will of the majority of Guyanese, clearly evidenced in the results of the national recount.

In honoring the memories of the ‘Ballot Box Martyrs’, particularly at this important juncture of our history, the PPP takes this opportunity to reiterate that it will not relent in its stance against the perpetuation of undemocratic actions.

That said, the lesson of years past – that democracy will prevail – will hopefully resound in the halls of the ‘coup plotters’ who are, today, bent on taking Guyana backward via their efforts to thwart the democratic process and subvert the will of the people. (July 16, 2020)

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22 WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

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OBSERVER

Talk about power sharing ignores untrustworthy nature of Granger-led Coalition

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ontinued public commentaries on the need for power sharing, many by apologists for the David Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition, are ignoring the fact that Coalition officials members of the leaderare he increasingly exposing ship of the APNU+AFC themselves as untrustworthy Coalition have little or no reand corrupt. gard for the people of Guyana, These were the sentiespecially their supporters. ments of the People’s ProThis conclusion based upon gressive Party (PPP) General the series of lies they have Secretary and over former been peddling theprespast ident, Bharrateach Jagdeo, who few months, lie often questioned howthe a sit conflicting with last.down The with “people who are blatantAPNU+AFC Coalition has been pushingand its with falsepeople narraly corrupt” tives are in the belieftensions that those who “stoking in who recognize their lies do can not society” for political gain matter and that their supporters be expected. will“All believe say, ofanything those they talking regardless how ridiculous it is. about power-sharing, we Let’s take the Coalitions’ made it clear before you

move forward you have to do it on the basis of the will of the people being expressed by the President being sworn in, who won the majority of the vote. But how do you sit down with people who are so prime inministerial candidate slimy nature?” he asked. andNotably, AFC leader, Khemraj the issue of inRamjattan, as an example.

He clusive governance has been was recorded admitting to the astaff continuous area ofof focus of of the Ministry Public successive ProgresSecurity thatPeople’s the Coalition lost sive Party/ to Civic (PPP/C) the elections the PPP/C by governments, between over 15,000 votes and1992 was and 2015 with thespeech building issuing his–farewell to of trustRamjattan, in the political arena them. on June 18, as a major pillar of themeeting efforts 2020, during a staff involving Unit Heads of the advanced.

Ministry of Public Security said: “It isESSENTIAL with a little sadness TRUST thatAI want say a ‘Towards couple of Papertotitled words to you…the numbers greater inclusive governance were against us… from inin Guyana – Building all Trust dications the PPP/C has beaten To Achieve Genuine Political

Cooperation’, was made public in 2003 and the measures detailed in the Paper were cited as “vital” for political development and the “emergence of a new political culture” characterized by greater us by some 15,000 trust, civility and vote…the commitloss oftoan tremenment theelection nationalis interest. dous.

It is a difficult time for Jagdeo has explained that me, it’s kinda emotional. But the measures inhave this at some point indetailed time you Paper were cited as because “vital” to make a departure for political development anda there’s always gonna be the “emergence of a newdecpowinner and a loser…the litical characterised larationculture” numbers are against by greater trust, and us…we went intocivility the recount commitment national and we lost, sotobethe prepared to accept and to move on...I am interest. prepared to accept move At a prior mediaand engageon…itthe is the of theSecregovment, PPPend General ernment and it is with this that tary explained that the PPP/C l wanted tell you that it was has beentoworking strategian honour and pleasure being cally for years on a national with you as the various Heads project, to ensure a more

unified Guyanese society.

In 1999, Jagdeo, as president, had said, “I extend a hand of friendship to those who are in Opposition and invite them to sit with is and iron out differences so that of Unit undera the Ministry of we can have common cause Public Security.” to serve – a cause in service Lo people and behold mere few of our and anation.” days after he denied saying Starting withinstead changes to exactly that and tried the Constitution, between to spin what he said into some1999 2001, he notedInthat thing and totally different. an there werewith moves to have the interview a media house political in TrinidadOpposition and Tobago,more last involved in at thesaid: legislative week, Ramjattan “Being level – with changes candito the the prime ministerial date, you wouldofhave move composition the toparliaout from the Public Security mentary committees, with Ministry and I wasrotated aware the Chairmanship that therethe wasOpposition going to beand an between announcement, before Government; andjust a hearing this matter went government to our Court system where of Appeal…so I just went ministers canofficers, be summoned to thank my all the to the Parliamentary Sectoral Heads of the Units of my minCommittees,is toexactly name what a few.I istry….that “Thesethanked were carefully crafted did…I them for what to give involvement they did.greater The results, one way at the other, legislative he or will belevel,” declared soon said. and we will respect that and The we will move on – I legwill Opposition’s move on if we win the Elecislative involvement, actions, certainly, the office of cording to him,toextended to Prime Minister.” the setting up ofThe theaudacity Rights to lie on television easily Commissions, thesoPublic when all evidence point to the Procurement truth should tellCommission you about the and Service character of Commissions. this individual.

“At thesemblance level of the judiWhatever of integciary, we moved from rity he had is now all gone just and he has revealed himself to be a dishonest and opportunistic person. The quicker he is removed from the corridors of power, the better it will be for us all.

Secondly, how can we h eDavid e n t iPatterson,m r e d o r m i twho ory forget building of at thethe Lusignan boldly claimed start of Prison, on the East Coast of the recount process, that the APNU+AFC Coalition was Demerara (ECD), as well in of the theirAdminStateas possession a section of ments of Poll (SOPs), which istrative building and the they would make was public and prison’s kitchen, gutted which their(July victory. by firewill onreveal Sunday 12, We are still waiting on those 2020).

SOPs, and we all know which are that inpartyReports was revealed as the11 victor matesthe were injured from recount.

Likeand all bethe tween 280 andCoalition 300 prisoners APNU+AFC offihave been displaced.is at the cials, this individual Director Prisons, forefront of all of the lies being GladwinbySamuels, during peddled this defeated party.a Then there is Aubrey Norpress briefing on Monday ton. would appear (JulyIt 13, 2020), saidthat firewhen was the Coalition to peddle started afterwants the prisoners its most asinine positions, Norton is the designated buffoon.

Whether it is dead people voting, to impersonators voting, to the PPP/C and Bharat Jagdeo paying off all the international ambassadors, Observers, CARICOM Heads and even the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Norton is the man for the job. This person sells these conspiracies in the strongest terms, without providing an iota of evidence. This evidence is often held in abeyance for some later time, that never seem to materialize. One would have expected that in at least one of the court cases, the so-called evidence would have been presented, but, as

Duplicity seen from the top, as self-interests are pursued T expected, it is all talk and nothing else. One can only wonder if Norton, who has often been treated like a footstool by the PNC, is now trying to bolster his credentials within the party by being its loudest and most obnoxious cheer leader.

Further, the less said about Christopher Jones and Sherod Duncan is the best. These two individuals on a daily basis spew a series of lies and hate.

Their actions only serve to consultation to agreement remind us about the nature of the APNU+AFC Opposition…but we of the Coalition saw what happened with and why it is imperative that that,” said,within referring we do Jagdeo everything our to the fact 10 power that that we for haveover better years Chancellor and leaders the walking the corridors Chief Justice ofoffices. the judiciary of government What is sad not however is that they could be substantively are not only embarrassing appointed because there was themselves andfrom the Coalition, no agreement the then but they are embarrassing the Opposition. entire country. to him, several According Also, timemade and time again, moves were to “build Joseph Harmon has taken to trust” at various levels. the airwaves to spread his “Affalse ter that (trust and has been propaganda, have built) been we can contemplate sharing deliberately misleading the at the Executive level,” Jagsupporters of the APNU+AFC deo had said.

Coalition.

Harmon is trained in PPPknows General Secrethe The law and fully well whathas the repeatedly Constitutionstressed states. tary However he deliberately misinterprets and misrepresents what the law states to fit a selfish agenda. Unfortunately, some lap up the lies. As old people would say, he lies like horse trotting. started a riot.

Theitreason Finally, when comesfor to the ringmaster, unrest was the seizure of the APNU+AFC contraband – including marCoalition leader, David Granger, the duplicity of this person ijuana, one cellphone and knows is not alcoholno– bounds. and the Itbeating uncommon forby you to expect of an inmate four prison to take a president at his word. officers.

YouThe expect president to be fouraprisons officers, consistent and you can expect according to Samuels, have him to honor whatever he been removed from the says.

Unfortunately forprisus on. “These are still Guyanese, wematters cannot take this being investigated, so what president at his word.

TimeI am saying is nothedefinitive,” and time again has gone he said. back on his word whenever u r i n g t h e are u n rnot e s tfa-a the D circumstances vorable This is were most numbertoofhim. prisoners unbecoming of a president. armed with knives, forks and He firstfrom acknowledged the cutlasses the kitchen. requirements of the no-confidence motion, which is that 33 is the needed majority vote, then cried foul when his government was defeated.

When the no-confidence motion was passed, his reaction was that he would abide by the consequences, which is to have elections called within three months, but then was fully behind a court case that challenged the validity of the no-confidence motions.

When the court matters, related to the December 2018 no-confidence motion, were disposed on, Granger promised to respect the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), but then reneged using the

Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners and compromised staff odf the GECOM Secretariat to frustrate the preparations for elections.

Granger also promised to honor the ruling of the CCJ and orders that designated his governmetn a caretaker government, but reneged – a move that saw the transfer of state lands and other transactions that a caretaker government has no business engaging in. thatOnce the People’s Progressive the elections were Party/Civic will work20020 with finally held in March any group – in the political – a year after they were conarena or in civil society – that stitutionally due – Granger shares its objective of arecount better promised to have the done, only thenalltoGuyanese have his Guyana where candidate, Ulita Moore, chalbenefit. lenge it in court.

Notably, the PPP/C 2020Hemanifesto promisedclearly to accept the 2025 states results the recount, onlythat to that theofParty is “aware renege.

There is now all sorts issues concerning constituof resistance accepting the tional reform,toparticularly in recount results, which show relation to a national, incluthe People’s Progressive Party/ sive have Civicgovernance (PPP/C) asmodel” the winners been and discussed of the raised March 2, 2020 General in publicElections. domain and is andthe Regional “committed” to a national Granger promised to acparticipatory process adcept the findings of the to CARICOM team, whichgovernance scrutinized dressing a new the national recount, but has model. been cherry picking what he liked and totally ignore the findings of the team – which is that the national recount results should be used as the basis for a final declaration of the election winner.

Since, allare ofonly the aweapons These few exwere successfully confisamples of the duplicity of cated. Further, after the Granger.

It is obvious thatfire, his officials following his ranks of are the just Guyana Defence lead theirdeployed behaviors Forceand were to and asactions are in lock stepPolice with sist members of the him.

Force, Fire and Prison SerWesecure hope the those officials vices facility. in the APNU+AFC Coalition This was the third maknow that all their lies and dejor a prison facility ceitsfire willat catch up to them and in four years.

On March 3, soon there will be a reckoning.

2016,actions prisoners firethis to Their have set placed the capital section country in offences great peril; our of the Camp Prison economy is onStreet the verge of and 17 prisoners died. collapse and we have seenOna recent in entire those Camp being July 9, surge 2017 the tested COVID-19.

Streetpositive facilityfor was burnt to Their handling of these two the ground by prisoners. major issues have been amateurish at best, as they have spent their time and energies on on misleading the nation to maintain power, whilst the Guyanese people suffer.

That said, there is still time to salvage the situation; the APNU+AFC Coalition can concede and allow the democratic transition of the rightful elected government. This would be the ultimate act of putting country first. Time will tell if the Coalition persists with their self-interests or whether the Granger-led group will rise to the occasion and put the interests of our people at the forefront of their considerations.

Fire destroys sections of Lusignan prison T

A section of the Lusignan Prison damaged by fire

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Police investigating fire at GECOM’s Linden office

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fire at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officer in Wismar, Linden, Region 10, is being investigated by the Guyana Police Force.

The fire, suspected to be arson, at the building rented

by GECOM, took place in the early morning hours of Tuesday (July 14, 2020).

Reports are that the fire was spotted by a female security guard, who was in a security hut at the front of the building, after she heard an explosion at the back of the building. Upon checking, she reported that she saw two males running west into First Alley, Wismar, and the upper flat of the building on fire.

Fire tenders were quickly summoned on scene. Investigations are in progress. The firefighters, attached to the

Linden Fire Station, were able to contain the blaze to the upper flat. They were

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fire was set to the Guyana Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, some time between 5:00hours and

also able to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

5:30hours on Tuesday (July 14, 2020).

The act is suspected to be arson.

Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Abandoned GDF building set on fire A

around 03:30hour on Tuesday (July 14, 2020). The security guard, who was stationed at the Maria’s Lodge Nursery school, observed smoke emanating from the abandoned building and immediately contacted the Anna Regina Fire Department.

The fire department later arrived on the scene and

managed to extinguish the fire before it could spread further.

According to reports, the fire was set to the two ends of the building, as two stacks of newspapers were found in the said locations.

Investigations by the Guyana Police Force are ongoing.

Arson attempt at Umana Yana

A

OBSERVER

The task of rebuilding will be an uphill battle W

Suspected arson at Anna Regina’s CID office, GDF building

n early morning fire damaged an abandoned Guyana Defence Force (GDF) base at Maria’s Lodge, Region 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam).

Reports are that swift actions by Radar Security personnel, prevented the spread of a fire, which was set to the GDF building sometime

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

n attempt was made to set fire to the Umana Yana on Sunday (July 12, 2020).

Reports are that the effort was foiled after a security guard raised an alarm. The guard reported seeing a man running away from the scene.

Further, it has been reported that the would-be arsonist threw a flammable object towards the structure’s roof, which is made from thatched troolie palm leaves.

No one has been arrested.

The Umana Yana was destroyed by fire in 2014, which was suspected to be electrical. The historic structure was reconstructed at a cost of $66.7M and involved the efforts of over 30 Wai Wai men from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper

Essequibo).

The structure was originally built by Amerindians in 1972 over a period of 80 days and cost $26,000 at that time.

The section of the roof damaged in the arson attempt

hen the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) enters office, following the conclusion of the March 2020 electoral debacle, it will be faced with the gargantuan task of rescuing the country from the economic disaster it has become, repairing the divisions that has been created in our society and battling the COVID 19 pandemic, among other critical tasks associated with the development of or nation.

Whilst, the latter was not created by the APNU+AFC Coalition, their incompetence in handling the pandemic and their inability to mount an effective response have worsened the state of affairs.

That said, much work guided by a clear plan will be needed to move us past this health crisis.

The response of the APNU+AFC Coalition to the COVID-19 pandemic can be characterized as ad-hoc.

There seems to be no comprehensive or a coherent plan to fight this pandemic, whilst at the same time assisting our citizens who were suffering as a result of the measures put in place.

With their limited resources and with the assistance of our generous Guyanese brothers and sisters, the PPP/C has done more for the citizens of Guyana, than the APNU+AFC Coalition.

– starting with the distribution of over 10,000 masks countrywide.

Together, the distribution of masks and hampers has helped thousands across the length and breadth of the country.

The Coalition instead of assisting our citizens have politicized this issue, which has been to the detriment of all. The PPP/C will ensure that, unlike what is taking place now, the persons handling this pandemic will be selected for their expertise and not for their politics.

This pandemic has negatively affected our country both medically and economically, and the team will reflect persons from both fields who will devise and implement strategies to combat this.

WORRYING PICTURE Secondly, on the issue of the economic disaster that is affecting all Guyanese, we cannot underestimate the task at hand. The APNU+AFC

Coalition will be leaving a country that is basally bankrupt.

In the Bank of Guyana, as of June 24, 2020, which was published in the July 4, 2020 edition of the Official Gazette, the Bank’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities presented a worrying picture.

Gold Reserves, according to the report, stand at G$720 million. To place this figure in context one must recall that when the PPP/C left office in May 2015, this figure was G$15 billion. One must also remember that gold would have been coming in over the past five years. So not only did the APNU+AFC Coalition use up what was left by the PPP/C, but they also used up what was coming in. Guyana’s Gold Reserve is used to maintain the value of Guyana’s currency and to fight inflation. The wanton use of this reserve has placed us at great economic risk. A new PPP/C government will have to work quickly on rectifying this as if this trend continues, it will result it extremely negative times ahead. Luckily the PPP/C had the foresight to recognize this before and has included in their Manifesto several measures to revive the mining industry, with special emphasis on the small to medium size miners.

The PPP/C has a track record of managing our economy competently and they will once again rise to the occasion.

In that same Bank of Guyana report, Public Deposits was listed at being over G$91 billion overdrawn – that is over G$91 billion in the red. When the PPP left office this was a positive figure. The first question one must ask here is, in what way did we benefit from this excessive spending? There is nothing we can point to to say that this money was well spent. This negative figure must also be taken within the context that there has been record revenue collections by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) over this same period. Despite this our deposits are in this state. The new PPP/C government will have to seriously curtail this wanton spending, and spend our citizen’s monies more prudently. Whilst the Manifesto has measures to bring relief to taxpayers, these measures are strategic as they

will serve to stimulate the economy and the net effect will be to our benefit. Guyana will then, therefore be able to arrest this negative cycle and work towards reducing and ultimately clearing this overdraft.

These are just two examples from the Bank of Guyana report that point to the peril we are in. A more in depth analysis will undoubtedly come in time. However, suffice it to say we all know that our economy is in a bad way and no amount of spin by those in the APNU+AFC Coalition cabal will change that.

We know what a basket of groceries cost today, against five years ago. We know what we could have spent five years ago, against today.

REPAIRING FRACTURES IN SOCIETY Further, and importantly, while working on restoring our economy, the new government will have to work assiduously to repair our fractured society.

Since December 2018, the APNU+AFC Coalition has been promoting divisions in our society. This has been ratcheted up since the March 2, 2020 elections. The rhetoric emanating from leaders within the Coalition has been counter productive to creating harmony in our country.

Racial strife that was reduced significantly by the PPP/C whilst in government, has been resurrected by the Coalition as they seek to use this to create a condition where they can remain in office or force the PPP/C to negotiate some sort of shared government. This will not work.

The PPP/C has demonstrated through the results of the elections that they are a truly multi ethnic party. They won seats in all 10 regions, some of which are the APNU+AF Coalition stronghold areas. They won the majority of the Indo-Guyanese and the Amerindian votes, and had a strong showing in the Afro-Guyanese communities. Based on the completed national recount, the PPP/C won approximately 51 per cent of the votes.

The PPP/C has a track record of enacting systems and policies for all Guyanese, and this has endeared them (Turn to page 23)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

De facto gov’t inks Financial position of GuySuCo US$14.6M loan agreement remains cause for concern T W he next democratically elected government will be tied to a loan for US$14.6M that was inked by the de facto finance minister, Winston Jordan, with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

The loan for a hydropower project was signed on June 8, 2020, as the national recount of votes from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections was winding down.

The total cost of the project is US$16.59M, to which Guyana must contribute US$1.95M, according to the contract. The contract secures the funds for the cost of the construction and rehabilitation of three hydropower plants: Moco Moco (700kW) and Kumu (1.5 MW) at Lethem, and Ikuribisi (1MW) at Bartica; as well as for payments for goods, works, consulting and related services procured under the project to bring it to fruition.

Further, according to the agreement, the IsDB agreed to finance the project on December 15, 2019 through installment sale financing, for execution by the Guyana

Energy Agency (GEA). The Bank’s website lists the project as ‘Active’ as of December 14, 2019, the day before it agreed to finance the project, as stated in the contract.

“The specific objective of the project,” the Bank states, “is to ensure universal access to electricity for the population living in Lethem and Bartica areas (currently around 80 % have access) with an affordable tariff around USD 20 cents per kWh, which is currently ranging between USD 33 cents and USD 40 cents per kWh in Lethem area and between USD 19 cents and USD 28 per kWh in Bartica area.”

This is the latest questionable transaction that the APNU+AFC Coalition has engaged in since the successful passage of the December 2018 no-confidence motion.

Guyana’s stock of debt has been increasing under the David Granger-led Coalition.

In November 2019, a report released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) showed that compared with most countries in the Region, Guyana’s external debt to foreign reserves ratio is

among the highest. In simpler terms, foreign debt as a percentage of reserves indicated the level of creditworthiness of a country – that is to say that if the debt continues to increase and the foreign reserves continue to decline then the creditworthiness of a country declines. The IMF report in question is the Regional Economic Outlook of 2019 for the Western Hemisphere. While the report notes that Guyana’s economy will grow when first oil arrives, the country currently does not compare well with others in terms of external debt and its reserves. Out of 22 countries examined by the IMF, it found that Guyana had the second highest external financing requirements for public and private. And when compared with Guyana, 17 other countries have more foreign reserves than they do debt.

At the end of 2019, according to the End of Year Outcome Report for 2019, Guyana’s debt to GPD ratio was: 32.65 per cent for public debt; 25.23 per cent for external public debt; and 7.41 per cent for domestic public debt.

Coalition persists with appointment of State Boards

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hirteen (13) persons have received appointments as board members for the Board of Industrial Training, according to the July 11, 2020 publication of the Official Gazette.

However, the appointments seem backdated since they were signed off on February 28, 2020 by the APNU+AFC Coalition’s Dawn Hastings.

This move represents a continuation of similar actions taken by the de facto Coalition government, which persists in disregarding its diminished authority, not only since the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, but since the December 2018 no-confidence motion.

Last week, the appointment of five new State Boards – Environmental Assessment Board (EAB); Wildlife Scientific Committee (WSC); the Protected Areas Commission (PAC); the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC); and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – saw the placement of 44 persons as Directors.

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive and former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has dubbed the move as “wholly illegal” in the current circumstances.

He said, “A caretaker government is bound in law to behave as a caretaker.

The caretaker of a property, for example, is not the owner… and therefore can’t make fundamental changes of any type; decisions of any type, or enter into new contract, or make new appointments…its behaviour

was further compounded when Parliament was officially dissolved and a date was set for the elections.

Certainly, after the elections the situation became worse, especially after the results of the elections are known and the Coalition has lost the government. Clearly, they can’t make appointments to boards.”

This is the latest move by the Coalition that exceeds its current authority and follows the transfer of dozens of plots of state lands in questionable dealings.

orry about the financial position of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was expressed since last month by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

And after GAWU’s public statement on this issue, the National Industrial and Commercial Investment (NICIL) announced the disbursement of $250 million to GuySuCo. In a statement, NICIL said, “This sum represents a partial response from NICIL to GuySuCo’s request to government for a ‘bailout’.”

However, the money will be used mainly to pay its creditors and allow the corporation to honour its weekly wages payroll – meaning GuySuCo will still require additional financial support to meet its July monthly payroll and be able to prepare for the start of the second crop season.

It is unclear how Guy-

SuCo will be able to move forward, effectively, with its operations.

The recent disbursement of $250m to GuySuCo was made under the $30 billion syndicated bond for the industry.

Meanwhile, there are still no answers to questions about full accountability regarding the $30 billion bond that was secured against GuySuCo’s assets.

The SPU was set up under NICIL to oversee the divestment of assets of four of the sugar estates that were closed by the APNU+AFC Coalition.

The Wales, Region 3, Sugar Estate was closed in December 2016. The Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara (Enmore) Estates were closed in December of 2017.

Once closed, the assets of the estates, including lands, were transferred from GuySuCo to the SPU, under

NICIL. Using those assets, the SPU secured a $30 billion bond. In the latter part of June 2018, a leaked document - ‘The Private Placement Memorandum’ – detailed the arrangements of the $30B fixed rate bond.

The document showed that NICIL plans to sell off assets of GuySuCo, including land, to help pay off the $30B, plus interest, that it has borrowed. The document explained that the move to issue the Bonds, at a 4.75 per cent interest rate, is a five-year agreement. Interest is payable semi-annually, starting October 2018. The Bonds will mature in April 2023. Also, the bonds have been issued “free and clear” of all corporate taxes. It has also been issued 355 basis points above one-year Bank of Guyana Treasury Bills.

To date, there has been no information on how the $30 billion bond is being used.

Finance Secretary threatens action against staff engaged in whistleblowing W ith the actions of the de facto APNU+AFC Coalition being exposed, including everything from the giveaway of state assets to appointments on State Boards, the Finance Secretary, Michael Joseph, on Monday (July 13, 2020) warned staffers about whistleblowing.

In a circular to all staff from the Ministry of Finance, which was leaked, he charged that there will be consequences if anyone is found reporting Government’s business as well as political affairs in a public forum.

He said, “We should conduct ourselves with regards to the tenets of confidentiality and objectivity; being the state of keeping or being kept secret or private of our knowledge of Government business; and a lack of bias, judgment, or prejudice while performing our duties competently.”

The document also warned of disciplinary ac-

tions if any staff member is found in breach of the Public Service Rules.

Joseph, in citing the Public Service Rules in relation to the conduct of Public Servants, noted: “not at any time during his or her engagement make public or disclose any person any information as to

the practise or as to any other matters concerning the Government’s business, which may come to his knowledge in the course of his engagement and or involve in any political discussion whereby the operations of the Government as a whole comes into the discourse.”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Holding the APNU+AFC Coalition to account – a review of local happenings

Lowenfield’s insubordination exposes the lengths to which rigging cabal will go T

he increasingly embattled Keith Lowenfield received and refused to comply with a fourth request to submit the "fit and proper" report for the March 2 Elections. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) made it clear that the recount results represent the true results of the elections. In any other country, Lowenfield would be fired and even charged with malfeasance in public office. He has now deliberately refused to submit the proper report, even after written instructions to do so three times. When GECOM meets on July 14, it would have been the Chair's and the Commissions 4th try to get him to properly prepare the report of the March 2 elections. His insubordination has been more than insulting, it is total madness, mockery and eye-pass. It is also criminal.

The patience of the Chair of the Commission is remarkable. While patience is a virtue, in this case, patience is now suffocating

Guyana. Having been given three chances to produce the proper report, having been told by the CCJ that he must carry out the instructions of the Commission and submit a report based on the recount results, Lowenfield is insulting the Chair and the Commission, but, worse, is holding a whole country hostage. At the same time, he is thumbing his nose to the entire international community. Lowenfield clearly does not care what anyone says. He is loyal to his leaders, the persons who control the rigging cabal. What is needed now is not patience, but an urgency to stop the arrogance and the openly criminal attempt to thief the elections. What is needed now is for GECOM to use the recount results, as agreed by all, to declare the winner of the elections. GECOM's continued patience with a rogue official is no longer a virtue, but an abrogation of its responsibility.

Every political party, oth-

er than APNU+AFC, has urged GECOM to declare the true results of the elections and allow Guyana to breathe again. Civil society has done the same. The only ones in Guyana are David Granger and his sycophants. They have lied to their supporters, yet they have never shown their loyal supporters their copies of the Statements of Poll. They have told their supporters they have evidence of dead people who voted, but they have shown them not an iota of evidence.

They have said people who were not present in Guyana voted, but have not shown any evidence. This is cruel, fooling your own supporters, getting them to risk their lives in this COVID-19 environment as they come out without social distancing and without masks to protest.

The whole international community has come out and demanded the election results be honored. CARICOM, OAS, the Commonwealth, the ABCE countries,

academicians from around the world, observer groups such as the Carter Center, have spoken out. They were here for the elections - they saw that E-Day was free and fair. But they also saw the disgraceful attempt to thief the elections, in plain sight.

Granger's APNU+AFC's response is to tell our international partners to "get lost", to "butt" out of our internal affairs, to "stop the interference". One of them, Raphael Trotman, insulted CARICOM, denouncing them as "sparsely" populated places that want to tell Guyana what to do. A man who cannot get a few hundred votes on his own want to denigrate a whole region. But Trotman also stupidly claimed that Lowenfield's report MUST be accepted by GECOM, even if the report is fraudulent, insisting that Lowenfield has no legal obligation to adhere to any instruction from GECOM. He now assigns to Lowenfield absolute power to decide which vote he will

accept and which he will not accept. This is ludicrous and criminal.

In the meanwhile, Guyana is at a standstill. The economy, already stagnant before the elections, is now in a freefall. Corruption, already rampant before the elections, is now reaching the abyss of shame. Crime is damaging Guyana, as the government is more focus on thieving the elections. The country's debt is spiraling out of control.

COVID-19 is killing our people. Thousands are jobless and families are on the verge of starvation.

This madness is now out of control. The time for GECOM to take control and do its work is now long past.

Lowenfield has received his 4th set of instructions to submit the report which he failed to deliver three time before. Worse, he submitted two other reports when not asked for them and both were openly and flagrantly committing fraud. Thus, he has failed five times before

and now has his sixth chance.

For a Commission that spent more taxpayer's money than any other single entity in the country, more than $10B for the March 2 elections and the subsequent recount, one with the highest paid staff in the country, one in which the commissioners are the highest paid board members in the country, to simply meet every day, just to reschedule a meeting for the next day, is unbearable. GECOM is abrogating its responsibility.

The rigging cabal led

by David Granger must not be allowed to flourish.

The way to end this is to start with showing Lowenfield who is the boss. The way forward is to show Lowenfield the "dog wags the tail". Justice Claudette Singh has resisted firmly the enormous pressure that APNU+AFC has mounted against her. But the time has come to declare the PPP the winner and to swear in Dr. Irfaan Ali as Guyana's ninth President.

Moderna fires up COVID vaccine race with promising early results (Bloomberg) Crucial data from experimental vaccines against the new coronavirus started streaming in as Moderna Inc. disclosed early results and new findings from the University of Oxford’s rival shot were reported to be imminent.

Moderna’s vaccine elicited antibodies in all people tested in an initial safety trial, federal researchers said Tuesday. Early results from tests of a vaccine Oxford is developing with AstraZeneca Plc will be published as soon as Thursday, according to a report on the ITV.com website.

New immunizations are reaching important milestones as the virus surges in the U.S. and other countries, continuing to stifle economies and claim lives.

Governments are investing billions of dollars in the hope that safe and effective inoculations will aid a return to something resembling pre-pandemic life.

Investors are also eagerly following the vaccine race, although some drugmakers have said they’ll sell their products at cost during the pandemic. Moderna’s shares surged as much as 18% in U.S. trading despite a high rate of side effects among the 45 patients who got the shot, with three experiencing severe reactions.

While ITV.com referred to the Oxford results as “promising,” without providing any data, AstraZeneca shares climbed as much as 4.2% on the report.

Other companies researching vaccines for the virus -- including Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. -- also rose, and optimism over Moderna lifted global equity markets.

“The good news is that this vaccine induced antibodies,” said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “Not just any kind of antibodies, but neutralizing antibodies.” Fauci,

in a telephone interview, called the Moderna data “really quite promising.”

Other experts sounded a note of caution over side effects.

More than half of participants who got the middle of three doses administered in the Moderna trial suffered mild to moderate fatigue, chills, headache and muscle pain. Also, 40% of people in the middle-dose group experienced a fever after the second vaccination. Three of 14 patients given the highest dose experienced severe side effects, but that dose is not being used in larger tests.

‘ADVERSE EVENTS’ “Man, that is a lot of adverse events,” said Tony Moody, a doctor and researcher at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute. He said it would be “unusual” for a vaccine to have this rate of side effects.

On the plus side, Moody said that the antibody levels produced were “really en-

couraging.” The neutralizing antibody levels in the trial produced were equivalent to the upper half of what’s seen in patients who get infected with the virus and recover, according to the results published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Moderna’s stock has almost quadrupled in value this year on hopes that the company’s vaccine will gain rapid approval. The vaccine will move into a much larger late-stage trial later this month that’s likely to determine whether it’s fit for commercial use.

Although stimulating production of neutralizing antibodies doesn’t prove a vaccine will be effective, it’s considered an important early step in testing. The side effects reported weren’t severe enough in the majority of patients to preclude further testing, according to the report by researchers from the NIAID.

The vaccine news came as the pandemic continued thriving throughout the U.S. While some states that suffered this spring have managed to quell the contagion, fierce hot spots are breaking out in the Sun Belt.

45 PATIENTS Moderna’s initial results are from the first group of 45 patients who received the vaccine, called mRNA-1273.

It evaluated three doses that were given in a two-shot regimen. The middle one was selected for use in the large final-stage study that is slated to begin on July 27th.

In the trial, participants received the two shots 28 days apart. After the first dose, all of them generated antibodies that bound to the coronavirus, but most did not yet produce antibodies capable of neutralizing the virus.

But all 42 people who got both scheduled doses of the vaccine generated

antibodies capable of neutralizing the coronavirus, according to the study results. The final-stage trial will compare the vaccine to placebo shots in 30,000 healthy people at high risk of contracting Covid-19.

One significant limitation of the data is it includes information only from the first 45 patients in the study, all of whom were from age 18 to 55.

Results from a second portion of the phase 1 trial that included older people -- a key demographic for any Covid-19 vaccine, given the high death rate in older patients -- are not available yet.

William Haseltine, a former Harvard Medical School researcher who chairs Access Health International, said the levels of neutralizing antibodies produced were “respectable” and possibly protective.

But he said “the jury is out” on the vaccine’s safety.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 JULY, 2020

Guyana’s COVID-19 cases Coalition’s COVID-19 Task up to 313 ‒ deaths stand at 19 Force pushes head with phase

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he Ministry of Public Health disclosed that Guyana now has 313 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The country’s record of deaths stands at 19. The latest fatality is a 36-year-old man.

The first COVID-19 death was recoded on March 11, 2020.

To date, a total of 3,418 tests have been administered.

Additionally, there have been over 156 recoveries to date.

Guyana’s cases have shown that persons between the ages of 20 to 29 are mostly affected, unlike the trend in other countries.

Cases have been reported in most all of Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions.

However, the most affected area to date is Region 1 (Barima/ Waini).

Further, a study done released on April 1, 2020, by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health

Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health, indicated that Guyana can see over 20,000 cases of the coronavirus.

To date, the virus has hit 211 countries globally and over 13 million people having been confirmed as victims of COVID-19, while there have been over 570, 000 deaths.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

The incubation period for COVID-19, which is the

time between exposure to the virus and symptom onset, is on average 5-6 days, but can be as long as 14 days. The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face. The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).

At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19, although trials are being conducted.

three of reopening plan

‒ curfew now from 8pm to 6am (except in specifically excluded areas)

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h e A P N U + A F C C oalition’s COVID-19 Task Force has announced that Phase 3 of Guyana’s re-opening process will commence as on Friday(July 17, 2020) and shall continue until July 31st, 2020.

In Phase 3, the following measures will apply (the full measures are outlined in the attached Order No. 6 – COVID-19 Emergency Measures): • The national curfew shall now be from 8pm to 6am.

• The curfew shall not apply in Regions 5 and 6 on Mondays to Fridays but shall be in effect on Saturdays and Sundays in these two regions. The curfew will be in effect for ALL other regions every day of the week.

• The curfew in the Aranka/

Arangoy/Moruca areas shall remain in effect from 6pm to 6am daily and continue until August 3rd, 2020. (The specific coordinates are listed in Order No. 6) • No more than 10 persons are allowed to gather at any place.

• The public sector will resume work on a rotation basis unless otherwise instructed by their respective Minister or Head of Agency.

• Food services and restaurants are permitted to be open for delivery, drive-thru, curb-side pick up and take away service from 6am to midnight daily.

• Outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted from 6am to 6pm under strict conditions outlined in paragraph 6 (3 c and d) of Order

No. 6.

• Public transportation services (except in Aranka, Arangoy and Moruca) are permitted to operate at a 75% passenger capacity.

• Private sector construction is permitted to resume.

• Clothing, shoes and book stores are permitted to resume operations.

• All persons are REQUIRED to wear a face mask in public at all times.

Guyanese are encouraged to continue to adhere to the guidelines set out. They have also been called on to practice proper hygiene by washing their hands thoroughly and frequently, practice social distancing and desist from social gatherings, and wear a mask when in public.

Study of 17 million identifies crucial risk factors for coronavirus deaths (The New York Times) An analysis of more than 17 million people in England — the largest study of its kind, according to its authors — has pinpointed a bevy of factors that can raise a person’s chances of dying from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The paper, published on July 8, 2020 in Nature, echoes reports from other countries that identify older people, men, racial and ethnic minorities, and those with underlying health conditions among the more vulnerable populations.

“This highlights a lot of what we already know about COVID-19,” said Uchechi Mitchell, a public health expert at the University of Illinois at Chicago who was not involved in the study. “But a lot of science is about repetition.

The size of the study alone is a strength, and there is a need to continue documenting disparities.”

The researchers mined a trove of de-identified data that included health records from about 40% of England’s population, collected by the United Kingdom’s National Health Service. Of 17,278,392 adults tracked over three months, 10,926 reportedly died of COVID-19 or COVID-19-related complications.

“A lot of previous work has focused on patients that present at hospital,” said Dr. Ben Goldacre of the University of Oxford, one of the authors on the study. “That’s useful and important, but we wanted to get a clear sense of the

risks as an everyday person.

Our starting pool is literally everybody.”

Goldacre’s team found that patients older than 80 were at least 20 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those in their 50s and hundreds of times more likely to die than those below the age of 40. The scale of this relationship was “jaw-dropping,” Goldacre said.

Additionally, men stricken with the virus had a higher likelihood of dying than women of the same age. Medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, severe asthma and compromised immunity were also linked to poor outcomes, in keeping with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. And the researchers noted that a person’s chances of dying also tended to track with socioeconomic factors like poverty.

The data roughly mirror what has been observed around the world and are not necessarily surprising, said Avonne Connor, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University who was not involved in the study. But seeing these patterns emerge in a staggeringly large data set “is astounding” and “adds another layer to depicting who is at risk” during this pandemic, Connor said.

Particularly compelling were the study’s findings on race and ethnicity, said Sharrelle Barber, an epidemiologist at Drexel University who was not involved in the study. Roughly 11% of the

patients tracked by the analysis identified as nonwhite. The researchers found that these individuals — particularly Black and South Asian people — were at higher risk of dying from COVID-19 than white patients.

That trend persisted even after Goldacre and his colleagues made statistical adjustments to account for factors like age, sex and medical conditions, suggesting that other factors are playing a major role.

An increasing number of reports have pointed to the pervasive social and structural inequities that are disproportionately burdening racial and ethnic minority groups around the world with the coronavirus’s worst effects.

Some experts pointed out flaws in the researchers’ methodology that made it difficult to quantify the exact risks faced by members of the vulnerable groups identified in the study. For instance, certain medical conditions that can exacerbate COVID-19, like chronic heart disease, are more prevalent among Black people than white people.

The researchers removed such variables to focus solely on the effects of race and ethnicity. But because Black individuals are also more likely to experience stress and be denied access to medical care in many parts of the world, the disparity in rates of heart disease may itself be influenced by racism, said Usama Bilal, an epidemiologist at Drexel University who was not in-

volved in the new analysis.

Ignoring the contribution of heart disease, then, could end up inadvertently discounting part of the relationship between race and ethnicity and COVID-19-related deaths.

The study was also not set up to conclusively show cause-and-effect relationships between risk factors and COVID-19 deaths.

Regardless of the methodological drawbacks of this study, experts agree that “the causes of disparities, whether in COVID-19 or other aspects of health, are intricately linked to structural racism,” Mitchell said.

In the United States, Latino and African American residents are three times as likely to become infected by the coronavirus as white residents, and nearly twice as likely to die.

Many of these individuals work as front-line employees or are tasked with essential in-person jobs that prevent them from sheltering in place at home. Some live in multigenerational households that can compromise effective physical distancing. Others must cope with language barriers and implicit bias when they seek medical care.

Any study publishing data

on an ongoing and fast-shifting pandemic will inevitably be imperfect, said Julia Raifman, an epidemiologist at Boston University who was not involved in the study.

But the new paper helps address “a real paucity of data on race,” Raifman added. “These disparities are not just happening in the United States.”

With regard to the racial inequities in this pandemic, Barber said, “I think what we’re seeing is real, and it’s not a surprise. We can learn from this study and improve on it. It gives us clues into what might be happening.”

The task of rebuilding... to all. They will continue this practice and will work on repairing the divisions created by the APNU+AFC Coalition. The actions of the new government will show all and sundry which party is really interested in the well being of all Guyanese. Only one party can show a track record of that, and it is the PPP/C. AN UPHILL BATTLE We need to understand that recent actions by the APNU+AFC Coalition have made our task much harder.

Albeit that the PPP/C will persist towards success, the task of rebuilding will, undoubtedly, be an uphill battle.

They are frantically selling off our assets that the PPP/C had earmarked for

development, that would benefit all our citizens. What the coalition is currently doing will only benefit a few within the cabal. Lands earmarked for housing has been sold off. Also other assets that were earmarked to provide jobs for our people have been sold off. It will be a challenge for us to recover these assets, but no effort will be spared to do so.

The actions of the APNU+AFC Coalition have removed any doubt as to where their loyalty lies. It is not with those persons who loyally follow them, but it is to their few financiers and to themselves. The sooner their supporters realize this the better it will be for us all.

The task ahead will not be easy, however, the PPP/C

(From page 20)

has two major factors in their favor. Firstly we have done this before. We have the experience. In 1992 the economy was also in a terrible state, and the PPP/C was able to turn the economy around and make us one of the more progressive economies in this part of the world. Secondly, the party has persons with the experience and the expertise to manage the task ahead. We are confident that we can achieve our goals and put our country back on the road to prosperity. We will do whilst at the same time bringing our people together and keeping the COVID 19 pandemic a bay.

Together we will all achieve these goals. At the end of the day, as a people, we are stronger together.

CARICOM meeting on Guyana situation likely next week – Gonsalves T

he 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will next week hold a special meeting on Guyana, given the continued delay in concluding the electoral process, more than 136 days since Guyanese went to the polls on March 2, 2020.

This is according to CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of St Vincent, Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

He said, “I was in discus-

sions with the Secretary-General (Irwin La Rocque) yesterday (Wednesday, July 15, 2020) and we agreed that we would await, hopefully, the decision by the Guyana courts…we will have a meeting earlier in the week, maybe Monday or Tuesday.”

On Tuesday (July 14, 2020), a fixed date application was filed by Attorney-at-Law, Mayo Robertson, on behalf of Misenga

Jones, a Tucville, Georgetown, resident, who was also a polling agent for the APNU+AFC Coalition on Election Day. It essentially seeks to have the recount results discarded. The 46-page court document that was filed calls for over 20 declarations from the High Court. The declarations, among others, which are being sought include that: GECOM did not comply with the Constitution

“Gonsalves stressed that CARICOM has spoken with once voice on the current state of affairs. He said, “CARICOM has spoken with one voice – to say look, we have to defend democracy…it is a blot on Guyana. It is a blot on CARICOM and we can’t be indifferent to what is happening… we are not interfering, we are affected, it is part of us….there is no room for shenanigans when everybody – outside of a narrow group, in an out of Guyana – that some clique is seeking to hijack the elections and, therefore, hijack the country….you have to respect the right of the people and the people’s vote.” – CARICOM Chair, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves with regard to the March 2020 Elections; GECOM did

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not act on the advice of the Chief Elections Officer and declare an election winner based on the his July 11, 2020 report – a report that included proven fraudulent election results for Region 4; GECOM must act on the advice of the CEO to swear in a president; and that the votes counted in the national recount are invalid. The matter will be heard on Friday (July 17, 2020), with a ruling expected by Sunday (July 19, 2020) from acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire.

Asked about actions that CARICOM can take if the impasse continues, Gonsalves stated that he cannot pronounce on these until a meeting of Heads of Government is held. “Yes, CARICOM has different actions it can take.

I wouldn’t want to say what the options available to CARICOM because we haven’t met as leaders… I wouldn’t be able, without a meeting of the heads to speak on that, and it would be premature for me to speak on that.”

Gonsalves stressed that CARICOM has spoken with once voice on the current state of affairs. He said, “CARICOM has spoken with one voice – to say look, we have to defend democracy… it is a blot on Guyana. It is a blot on CARICOM and we can’t be indifferent to what is happening…we are not interfering, we are affected, it is part of us….there is no room for shenanigans when everybody – outside of a narrow group, in an out of Guyana – that some clique is seeking to hijack the elections and, therefore, hijack the country….you have to respect the right of the people and the people’s vote.”

According to him, all of the regional and international hold one position, which is that the results from the national recount should form the basis for a final declaration of election results and the democratic transition of government.

The CARICOM Chairman said, “An election has three aspects…the third is counting to votes…when Prime Minister Mottley was

Chairperson of CARICOM and five of us, five Prime Ministers, went down to Guyana, nobody complained – no one, absolutely no one complained about anything that happened before the elections – that is in the registration and the like or what happened on election day. “….the problem was about what was happening in Region 4…clearly it was ruled (by the High Court) that what was sought to be done, after the voting took place, was highly irregular and would produce a result not in keeping with the will of the people. That is why you had all the calls for a recount. “….it is for GECOM, through the Chairman, retired Justice Claudette Singh to declare the results, but every time you have a forward movement, you have something trying to put a fly in the ointment, even after the judgement of the CCJ….the CCJ addressed, to my mind, all the issues. “…there are certain basic facts that the entire world is cognizant of….all the Observers, including CARICOM, satisfied that what you have to do is declare the results in accordance with the recount…everybody who has been there says the only way this can be done is do it properly, declare the results in accordance with the recount that was done, not the bogus numbers produced.”

He added that a declaration needs to be done very swiftly by GECOM in order to avoid an escalation of tensions in Guyanese society.

“We are arrived at a dénouement (the final phase)…we have reached a stage where things are coming to an end and we have to urge peace, but the declaration needs to be done very swiftly by GECOM because the pressure is building….we mustn’t forget Elections took place since March 2nd and today is July 16th,” Gonsalves said.

The Prime Minister made his comments during a radio interview with host ‘Richie B’ on Jamaica’s edge105.3 FM.

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