Weekend Mirror 25-26 July 2020

PPP/C will 'fiercely resist' undemocratic electoral outcome - Jagdeo 25-26 July, 2020 / Vol. 11 No. 32 / Price: $100

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

PAGE 9

US rep tells APNU+AFC to choose…

Democratic exemplar or international pariah?

PAGE 2

Stop using judiciary to avoid solution to electoral impasse – Almagro PAGE 19

Interpretation of CCJ ruling

by Coalition, Lowenfield ‘hopelessly flawed’ – Chief Justice PAGE 3

SEE INSIDE

Op-Ed: Granger and his gang of brigands continue to undermine Guyana’s very democratic foundationPAGE 8

GCCI to Granger: ‘Time to concede’

PAGE 18

Oxford vaccine triggers immune response PAGE 22

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

US rep tells APNU+AFC to choose…

Democratic exemplar or international pariah?

T

he APNU+AFC Coalition and its leader face a stark choice, given the current electoral impasse, according to the deputy Permanent Representative of the United States of America (USA) to the Organisation of American States, Bradley Freden.

Addressing the OAS Permanent Council, which met on Tuesday (July 21, 2020) to discuss the Guyana situation, he said, “A Partnership for National Unity – and its leaders – face a stark choice.

Does it want to be a leader in the hemisphere and a democratic exemplar? Or does it want to be an international pariah?

“Does Guyana want to have a functioning executive and legislature so it can pass the laws it needs to encourage the development of its people? Or does it want to remain a country whose leaders cannot travel and are subject to sanctions?

“These are the choices facing the country today.

Our meeting today reflects the severity of Guyana’s predicament, and we hope that it makes the right choice.”

According to him, Guyana was – and hopefully still is — poised to become a regional democratic leader and use its newfound resources to improve the welfare of its

citizens. “The United States has long had high hopes for Guyana . We believe it can – and will — leave behind its history of political strife and come together for the benefit of its people. It Instead, we have witnessed over eighteen months of chaos, ever since the December 2018 no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, which brought down the Granger administration. The no-confidence vote ushered in a period of political paralysis at a time that Guyanese leaders of all backgrounds could have come together to lay the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future,” he said.

UNDEMOCRATIC ACTIONS It has been a long road to the current point, according to him. He said, “International observers noted flagrant tabulation irregularities, and unanimously agreed that there was no credible result.

The shared concern over these findings is consistent with our region’s collective commitment to uphold and defend the principles articulated in our Inter-American Democratic Charter. Guyana’s partners in CARICOM agreed as well. A delegation of five Caribbean prime min-

“In democracies, leaders step aside when they are voted out of office. That speaks to the importance and strength of institutions, not individuals; and to the power of the people, not those who would usurp their power.” - Deputy Permanent Representative of the USA to the OAS Permanent Council, Bradley Freden isters sought to break the impasse in March and even offered to send a recount mission, which President Granger himself supported. But this effort to have a transparent, internationally-supervised recount was stymied in the Guyanese courts…speaking for all of us, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said it best after this initiative failed: that, and I quote, ‘there were forces that clearly did not want to see votes recounted’.

It also became clear to the international community there were forces that repeatedly refused to accept the will of the people at the ballot box. “…the recount proceeded and CARICOM and the OAS concluded that the opposition had indeed won Guyana’s national elections…Guyana’s ruling coalition rejected this result, disputing how the votes were tabulated.

“The Guyana Election Commission’s Chief Elections Officer submitted reports that baselessly disen-

franchised at least a quarter of the electorate, and discounted the recount numbers. More litigation ensued. Finally, on July 8, over four months after the election, the Caribbean Court of Justice declared that the electoral report submitted by the GECOM CEO was null and void. The GECOM Chairperson ordered him to submit a final election report based on the recount numbers. But instead of acceding to the GECOM chairperson, rulings of the CCJ and the international community, the CEO three times submitted a report that was not based on the internationally-supervised recount, but on fictitious numbers….the CEO acted in bad faith and contrary to the interest of democracy in Guyana.”

DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION Having recounted the events that led to the OAS Permanent Council meeting, he stressed that the

Michael Forde remembered

M

embers of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) were part of a wreath laying activity, in memory of Michael Forde, on his 56th death anniversary.

On the morning of Friday July 17, 1964, the then Premier of British Guiana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the leaders of the two main opposition parties, Mr. L.F.S Burnham and Mr. Peter D’Aguiar, were locked in a peace bid conference at the Premier’s office when a lethal bomb exploded at PPP headquarters, Freedom House.

Reports from the daily newspapers of the day, recorded that the explosion, which rocked the heart of Georgetown, went off at about 10:45 a.m. The force of the explosion dismembered Michael Forde, sent an old house crashing to the ground and smashed glass windows at the nearby Metropole Cinema.

The eastern portion of Freedom House and furniture in the building were also damaged. The windscreens of cars parked in the area were also shattered.

The death of Forde in the explosion was the second in

the Forde family that week.

His father had died on the previous Sunday.

It was reported to the police that a young man went into the Progressive Bookshop, housed in the Freedom House building with a small carton. He placed the box on a bookshelf, purchased a book and without waiting for his change, hurriedly left the shop leaving his box behind.

Seconds after the man had left, Forde, an employee, called out to the manager, Miss Euna Mulzack, an American citizen residing in the country, and informed her that the young man left hurriedly without collecting his change and also left a box behind.

Becoming suspicious, she told him to throw the box out of the building. Forde responded and was rushing through the eastern side door of the shop when there was an explosion. The lower part of Forde’s left hand was hurled some 50 yards away back of the pit entrance of the Metropole Cinema. His mutilated body was found face upward lying across the entrance of Freedom House with just strips of clothing dangling

around his waist.

At the time of the explosion there were around 40 persons in Freedom House, some of whom were injured.

Among the wounded were Mrs. Mary Nunes, wife of Minister of Education Mr. Cedric Nunes, Mrs. Patricia Christian, Miss Euna Mulzack, with a damaged eye and Miss Bispat with a suspected fractured spine. The Premier’s wife, Mrs. Janet Jagan, the then General Secretary of the PPP, escaped with slight injuries to her hands.

The police investigation into the death of Forde resulted in charges being laid against Emanuel Fairbairn.

On August 10, 1964 Emanuel Fairbairn aka Batson gave a signed statement to the police, which said, “On Friday the 17th July, 1964 at 10:30 a.m., I received a parcel bomb from one Clive Wilson of East La Penitence Housing Scheme at Congress Place, Camp St. Georgetown. He told me to carry it to Freedom House at Robb St., Georgetown. One George Roberts was with me when Clive Wilson gave me the bomb. This George Roberts belongs to Ann’s Grove,

carried the parcel bomb on a bicycle and went into the book shop at Freedom, Robb St., met some people in the book shop and I took down some books and looked at them. I had the parcel bomb with me and I put it on the counter in the book shop. I bought a book for 5¢ and paid a woman there with $1 note. I went away with the book and my change I rode away to Camp St., and when I was opposite Congress Place the bomb go off”.

Mr. L.F.S Burnham and Mr. Desmond Hoyte, among other prominent lawyers, represented the persons accused of the actions that led to the death of Michael Forde from August 1964 until December 1964, when the People’s National Congress took over government and Burnham became Premier of then British Guiana.

Michael Forde, a former national council member of the PYO, was buried on Guiana’s national day of mourning and reconciliation.

The Progressive Bookshop has since been renamed the ‘Michael Forde Bookshop’ in honour of the fallen comrade.

only democratic solution for Guyana at this time is respect for the results of the national recount. “In democracies, leaders step aside when they are voted out of office. That speaks to the importance and strength of institutions, not individuals; and to the power of the people, not those who would usurp their power.”

The - Deputy Permanent Representative of the USA to the OAS Permanent Council stressed that international support for a democratic solution is strong. He said, “The CARICOM chair said the entire world knows a small group is trying to hijack Guyana’s elections.

Canada has demanded a swift and transparent conclusion to the election process and hold accountable those who prevent it. Brazil has called on Guyana’s leader to respect the popular will. The United Kingdom has begun the process of imposing sanctions against

culpable officials. This is not an accident – there is no way to minimize how flagrant the actions of Guyana’s leaders have been.”

“We call upon its leadership to honor the results of democratic election…. if the stalemate continues, however, it will only be the Guyanese people who suffer,” he urged.

Freden also mentioned the fact that the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and the Carter Center were barred from returning to Guyana to observer the national recount process, having observed the March 2020 elections.

“The reasons for these actions still remain unclear,” he said.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Interpretation of CCJ ruling by Coalition, Lowenfield ‘hopelessly flawed’ – Chief Justice I

n handing down her decision on Monday (July 20, 2020) in yet another election related court challenge, the acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire, underscored the fact that there were “hopelessly flawed” interpretations of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling of July 8, 2020.

The CCJ judgment referred to was in the Eslyn David case. The case turned on whether an Application made to the Court of Appeal by David fell under Article 177(4) of the Guyana Constitution.

That Article addresses questions as to the validity of an election of a President. Decisions of the Court of Appeal made under that Article are final and cannot be appealed to the CCJ. David’s Application challenged the credibility of the recount, undertaken by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), of the votes cast at the elections held on 2 March 2020. Ms David claimed that GECOM had created a new and completely different legal regime

by an Order it had issued (Order 60) authorising the recount and that GECOM had abdicated its responsibility to determine the election’s credibility.

The acting Chief Justice noted that the submissions made on behalf of the applicant in the case before the High Court, Misenga Jones, and the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, as well as those put forward by the Coalition’s Attorney General, Basil Williams, were flawed interpretations of the CCJ’s ruling, despite the clarity of the document.

At paragraph 46 of the judgement, she said, “The interpretation of the CCJ decision by the applicant (Misenga Jones) the CEO and the AG is hopelessly flawed.

The CCJ judgment lends to the ineluctable conclusion that the recount votes are ex facie valid.”

George-Wiltshire pointed out that paragraph 37 of the CCJ judgment was relied on, singularly, and was not read in context.

Paragraph 37 of the CCJ judgment said, “The Presidential candidate on the list for which more votes have been cast than any other list is deemed to be elected as President, and the Chairman of GECOM must so declare35.

Both the allocation of seats in the National Assembly36 and the identification of the successful Presidential candidate37 are determined on the sole basis of votes counted and information furnished by returning officers under the Representation of the People Act.” The acting Chief Justice said, “Paragraph 37 cannot be read in isolation. This is so because immediately thereafter in paragraphs 38 and 39, the CCJ explain Order 60 in detail…the intention was to provide an open, transparent, and accountable recount of all the votes cast in those elections. The purpose was to assuage the contestations among the various parties.”

Paragraphs 38 and 39 of the CCJ judgment state that, “[38] Order 60 relates only to

the Elections held on 2 March 2020. It was specifically introduced to cater for the various disputes and contentions that arose after polling day.

The intention was to provide an open, transparent, and accountable recount of all the votes cast in those elections.

The purpose was to assuage the contestations among the various parties, determine ‘a final credible count’, and remove certain difficulties or fill certain gaps in connection with the application of the provisions of the Representation of the People Act. The recount was to be conducted in the presence of representatives of political parties that contested the Elections, advisors to and members of GECOM and a range of other personnel. GECOM was to serve as the final arbiter of issues not resolved at lower levels in the established procedure. The CEO was to supervise the recount process. “[39] The aim at transparency included a variety of measures. At each “workstation” where counting was to

be carried out, there was to be installed a picture of the ballot box depicting the state in which it was delivered to the workstation and an audio feed of the recount process.

An audio-visual facility was established in the Tabulation Centre broadcasting live the entire tabulation process. Order 60 carefully set out how the process should unfold.

The result of the recount of each ballot box was to be recorded on a Statement of Recount signed by the representatives of each contesting party. The tabulation of the Statements of Recount was to be done at a central tabulation centre in an openly transparent manner. Once all the Statements of Recount were tabulated, the supervisor for tabulation was to ascertain and verify the entries therein and calculate totals, again in the presence of various personnel. This ascertained and verified matrix was to be signed by the District Coordinator for the District and the signed matrix was to be transmitted to the CEO

whose responsibility it was to tabulate the matrices of the ten electoral districts and submit to the Commission a report together with a summary of observation reports for each District. GECOM would deliberate on this report and then determine whether it would request the CEO to use the data compiled as the basis for the submission of a report under section 96 of the Representation of the People Act.” At paragraph 53 of the judgement, the acting Chief Justice said, “Far from nullifying Order 60 and the recount process, in my view the CCJ explicitly endorsed it. It is clear from the above quoted part of paragraph 39 that the Court was stating how the CEO was to conduct the tabulation, how he was to prepare his report for transmission to GECOM for its deliberation.”

It has been over 140 days since Guyanese went to the polls on March 2, 2020 and a declaration of final election results is still to be made.

Guyana can ill-afford continued delays in declaration of election results – Teixeira

G

uyana’s courts, as well as the nation’s apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), have been “absolutely clear” on what is required to finalize the protracted electoral process and on what is required by the Constitution of Guyana, according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive, Gail Teixeira.

And, as such, she stressed that the continued attempts by the David Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition to prevent a final declaration of election results leaves Guyana in a “potentially dangerous” situation.

“The Granger-led is continuing to thwart the will of the Guyanese people.

This is unprecedented. We cannot find, and there is no case in the world, where a parliamentary has seen this happen – that people are waiting 141 days for an election result,” she said on CBC TV8’s ‘Morning Barbados’ programme on Tuesday (July 21, 2020).

Teixeira added, “As Guyanese we are embarrassed by all this. Our international image has been damaged terribly by what is

“…we have an enormous amount of work to do…in 1992 when we won, after the first free and fair elections, this was a collapsed country with a collapsed economy. I regret to say, as a politician who has been around for a rather long time, that after all these years, in 2020, we are almost back to where we were in 1992.” – PPP Executive, Gail Teixeira going on and we are embarrassed by it as a people, even though we are not responsible for this. Our dignity as a people is being thrown out the window.

“Also, the economic situation is getting worse. You know we haven’t had a budget. It is now the seventh month of the year and no budget….there has been no parliament since December 2018….we are really in a delicate and potentially dangerous situation.”

Looking ahead, the PPP Executive underscored that the Granger-led Coalition is “desperate” and is “running out of options” in the legal arena. “It is a matter of time.

In the end every attempt to thwart the will of the people will be overcome,” she said.

According to her, there is no engagement in civil action or violence. “It is really the APNU supporters who have been having protests,

one of which was so terrible, that it was commented on internationally, where they had a protest with a coffin and an effigy of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, where they stomped on it and claimed to have officiated at her funeral,” she said, adding that any stakeholder holding a different view from that of the APNU+AFC Coalition have been subject to attacks.

MUCH WORK TO BE DONE The PPP Executive stressed that there is much work to be done, following the democratic and peaceful transition of government.

“In our manifesto we have made a number of commitments. As a party in government we have implemented many of the promises we have made….our commitments to inclusivity – which is what our Constitution calls

for – and for the removal of discrimination – which has been part of the Granger-led government – are among the things we have to address.

There is space for all of us.

There are spatial opportunities in Guyana for all of us; there is no one ethnic group that is superior to another. “…so one is the issue of governance that are critical – the manner in which we govern to ensure….two, is addressing the core issues; for example, righting the economy because if we can’t do that then we don’t have the money to reduce poverty and to be able to provide jobs for our people. “…we have an enormous amount of work to do…in 1992 when we won, after the first free and fair elections, this was a collapsed country with a collapsed economy. I regret to say, as a politician who has been around for a rather long time, that after

all these years, in 2020, we are almost back to where we were in 1992. “…we have to reconstruct. We have to rebuild and we have to build trust and confidence of our people in the institutions that exist in our country because those have really been undermined.”

She noted that these tasks must be addressed without delay, meaning the efforts to block the final declaration of results from the March 2, 2020 General and

Regional Elections much stop and the Coalition must act in a responsible manner where it puts the interests of the country first.

“Our people have been extraordinary; everyone has commented on the level of discipline and the patience, the extraordinary patience, which we’ve exercised…we are positive that we will succeed. The issue is how long this will take…the PPP/C is clear that we won these elections…it will end and it must end,” Teixeira charged.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

EDITORIAL

The danger of becoming a risk to the hemisphere O

ver 143 days have passed since the will of the people were clearly expressed at the polls on March 2, 2020. It has been over 580 days since the David Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition was brought down by the successful and valid passage of the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018.

Locally, what has ensued since has been a period of political uncertainty, abuses of the political and judicial process and the worsening of the standard of living for Guyanese across the country, regardless who they voted for or support. Internationally, Guyana’s image has been diminished and if the current state of affairs persists, we risk becoming an outcast in the global fold of democratic nations.

Granted that there will be a devastating impact on the Guyanese people if the democratic will of the people is thwarted.

Some emphasis has to be placed on what happens to Guyana internationally if this happens – a task that goes some ways towards engendering understanding. That said, if instability becomes the orders of the day – for which the APNU+AFC Coalition bears sole responsibility – then our people face the danger of Guyana becoming a risk to the hemisphere. And if anything was a clear indicator of this, it was at the meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States on Tuesday, July 20, 2020.

Article 10 of the OAS Charter states that: “The Secretary General may bring to the attention of the General Assembly or the Permanent Council any matter which in his opinion might threaten the peace and security of the Hemisphere or the development of the Member States.” Presenters at the meeting of the Permanent Council hinted at the risks to the hemisphere in terms of democracy, economic relations and, more subtly, security.

Relative to security, bilateral agreements to curb drug trafficking and other transnational crimes that threaten regional security are in place and could be in jeopardy. We cannot risk this.

Our economic and trade relations and trade with democratic nations would be at risk if Granger continues to take Guyana down this regressive path. Already, the de facto APNU+AFC Coalition government officials, and others, have been subject to visa restrictions. The economic sanctions facing neighbouring Venezuela send a clear signal on what Guyana must avoid, Our economy, which has seen in decline since May 2015 and has been further affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; our aid funded projects are in abeyance since the end of last year; the country can ill-afford further sanctions for undemocratic practices. We cannot risk the collective future of our people.

On the democracy front, the promotion of a democratic culture in the Hemisphere is a task most all countries on this side of the world, as members of the OAS, work assiduously towards and partner with each other on. We cannot risk to further damage these partnerships.

Further, Guyana is also a signatory to the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society. The leaders declared in the Protocol of Port of Spain issued after the meeting “that a CARICOM Charter of Civil Society be developed as an important element of the Community's structure of unity to deal with matters such as free press; a fair and open democratic process…”.

Additionally, as a nation we are signatories to the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Universal Declaration of Human Rights among others.

We also have membership with bodies like MERCOSUR. These commitments must not be treated lightly. Already, the damage done will take years to repair.

Calls for a final declaration of election results based on the outcome of the national recount are being upped and pressure is mounting from the regional and international community.

The fact is this is the only democratic solution to preserve the future of all our people, our nation and to ensure that Guyana avoid the dangers of becoming a risk to the Hemisphere.

The question that David Granger must answer, as leader of the APNU+AFC Coalition, is the one aptly worded by the US’s Permanent Council representative, Bradely Freden.

Does it want to be a leader in the hemisphere? Or does it want to be an international pariah?

Coalition’s own actions caused their electoral loss Dear Editor,

I

t is clear now that the APNU-AFC Coalition is seeking to conjure (no doubt emanating from Seven Ponds) yet another reason for their loss other than the most obvious, which was bad leadership and bad governance.

Not satisfied with abusing leaders of foreign countries, foreign organisations, our regional CARICOM, and our apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice, the new mantra is “regime change”.

The vast majority of Guyanese will find this mantra an imbecilic sermon befitting of its source.

Entering office on an extremely thin margin of just over 4,000 votes between the APNU-AFC Coalition and the PPP/C, but only about 2,000 votes if the smaller parties were also accounted for, the percentage was 0.1%.

Instead of showing Guyana that they would be the best government, they: • Increased their salaries by 50 per cent; • Broke their promises; • Neglected young people and young leaders; • Fired thousands of sugar workers; • Overtaxed both businesses and consumers; • Mismanaged the economic sectors and damaged our macroeconomic fun-

damentals; • Signed bad oil contracts; • Lied about and hid the US$18M signature bonus; • Engaged in wasteful spending; and • Increased corruption.

This was all led by an aloof and oftentimes invisible president who breached the constitution more than once and who now holds the record for the least press conferences held in 5 years (3 press conferences in total – not even one a year). As a result, the people were dissatisfied.

It was, therefore, not ‘regime change’ that made the APNU-AFC Coalition lose the 2016 local government election.

It was not ‘regime change’ that made the APNU and AFC lose the 2018 local government election.

It was not ‘regime change’ that made the APNU-AFC Coalition lose the no confidence motion.

It was not ‘regime change’ that made the APNU-AFC Coalition lose the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. In fact, most people on the street termed this government “the oneterm government” and expected them to lose. The loss was not even close – it was almost 25,000 votes if the smaller parties are accounted for.

The foreign and local observers

did not voice their stern position until Clairmont Mingo’s fraudulent declaration, which was done before their very eyes at the Ashmins Building. As accredited observers, given what they witnessed, they were obliged to make statements and send reports to their superiors otherwise it would be a dereliction of duty and possibly complicity.

No shifting narrative will change what was witnessed.

Nonetheless, before seeking to awaken the dead, the APNU-AFC Coalition should start with the most obvious resurrection, which is the release of their Statement of Polls which they claim they have and shows that they won the election. They can also seek to acknowledge Mingo’s fraudulent declaration which was unquestionably proven by the recount or offer an explanation for the 15,000 extra votes he found in that declaration which did not appear in the Statement of Polls and the ballot boxes when it was opened.

The APNU-AFC Coalition is partially right - there will be a change of regime, but it was the voters who would have caused it and the APNU-AFC Coalition should blame no one or nothing else but themselves.

Sincerely, Charles Ramson Jr.

Burke’s incendiary racist, inflammatory comments dangerous to stability in society Dear Editor,

U

p until recently, I never listened or read the speeches or writings of Rickford Burke, but from the little that I have gleaned of him, I long considered him to be somewhat mentally deranged. So I ignored him.

I was requested to listen to an audio recording of his, currently in circulation and what I heard were the rantings of a very sad and depressed human being, whose mind is filled with hate and racial hostilities, desperately clamoring for attention which he feels he deserves but is not attracting.

Were it not for the potential damage his sadistic outpourings can cause to already strained race relations in this country and the further derailment of the democratic process, such a demented mind is best ignored with the hope that professional help would at some stage, be enlisted.

In this recording, this man ranted for over an hour at the top of his voice, screaming like a hyena in heat.

I gather that he was engaged in this vocal masturbation in a basement somewhere in New York, as he tries

so emphatically to rip apart relations between Afro and Indo- Guyanese in Guyana, while at the same time, slaughtering the reputation of outstanding Guyanese citizens and Caribbean leaders.

Gerry Gouveia was labeled a drug lord; Justice Claudette Singh was accused of being corrupt, dishonest and guilty of electoral fraud; Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves was described as a rapist who stole Government in his country. This man accused the entire CARICOM Region and all the leaders of being racists against black people. If this is not lunacy then I do not know what is.

Essentially, Burke supports Mingo’s declaration in which Clairmont Mingo gifted APNU+AFC over 19,000 more votes than they received, while at the same time deducting from the PPP more than 3,000 votes. He further wants Keith Lowenfield’s various reports, one in which he invalidated 115,000 votes, and one in which he included Mingo’s declaration, to be used to declare the results. The fact that the CCJ ruled that Lowenfield nor GECOM can invalidate votes or can

determine whether votes are fraudulent or not and has actually vacated one of Lowenfield’s report, are all matters which have not been able to penetrate the thick skull of this man.

Because the Chairperson has refused to accept these fraudulent numbers, this man poured the worse type of vitriol on this distinguished former Judge.

He attacks the recount order, claiming that it is unlawful but forgets that Vincent Alexander takes authorship of it and that it received the approval of the CCJ. He defends Granger Administration’s desperate cling to Government, claiming that under the Constitution the Government remains in Office until a new President is sworn in. He blindly refuses to recognize that the law will not tolerate a Government frustrating the declaration of an elections result, thereby preventing a new President  from being sworn in, so as to prolong its life in Office.

In the course of his inane tirade, he says the vilest things about the US Ambassador, the Diplomatic Community and all the international (Turn to page 5)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Governments are not allowed to get away with human rights abuses by claiming sovereignty

Courts abused, used as an unwilling pawn W in election debacle

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

I

n its continued attempt to thief the March 2, 2020 General and Regional elections, APNU+AFC has committed fraud, using their agents at GECOM, Keith Lowenfield, Clairmont Mingo and the three APNU+AFC commissioners, and have abused the court system.

APNU+AFC has shown total disregard and defiance for the electoral system, constitutional bodies, including the court, the Guyanese people, and the whole world. In fact, APNU+AFC and many of their sycophants have now been subjected to visa restrictions by the US and similar restrictions are expected from Canada and the UK. The court cannot stop anyone from approaching it, but the court must force those who want to abuse it's authority to think twice. There must be consequences for abusing the court's authority. The court, for one, must institute severe costs on those who want to abuse the system and ensure those costs are paid immediately.

The ink had not yet dried on the Chief Justice's latest ruling (July 20, 2020) and the rigging cabal indicated it is appealing the Chief Justice's ruling. This is in spite of the fact that the Chief Justice brutally dismissed APNU+AFC's application, deeming it as hopelessly flawed and declaring it res judicata, meaning already settled. APNU+AFC, through a surrogate, applied to the High Court to throw out the recount data and to permit the use of the Mingo-Lowenfield fraud for the declaration of the March 2020 elections.

In the face of the total rejection of their application, fresh from being told they are abusing the court, APNU+AFC added signaled they are approaching the Court of Appeal, further abusing the courts. The insult to the judiciary is appalling. But in the process APNU+AFC is holding a whole country hostage.

Guyana is at a standstill, on the verge of being broke, as warned by the Governor of the Bank of Guyana. APNU+AFC recklessly refusing to honor the will of the people.

In this latest frivolous court case, it is clear the matter is returning to the CCJ. It is irresponsible and reckless for anyone to ask any court to permit the use of the Mingo-Lowenfield fraud. The fraud was evident since Mingo introduced it on March 4. The Statements of Poll verified that Mingo was committing a fraud. Lowenfield hid the SOPs and APNU+AFC refused to show their copies of the SOPs. The recount which was agreed to by all parties, no dissenting voice, further exposed the fraud. The Chief Justice herself on March 6 ordered Mingo to correct the data by using the certified SOPs. On March 14, in a contempt hearing, promises were made to dispose the Mingo numbers and permit a recount. Thus, the CJ knew about the fraud she was being asked to legitimize.

The recount was challenged and the CCJ ruled the recount declarations are valid and must be the numbers used for the final declaration of the winner. This matter, therefore, is res judicata and the whole world knew that. For anyone to then ask the High Court to rule on a matter that the highest court has already disposed of is not only arrogance, it is contempt. While the CJ ruled accordingly and did not allow APNU+AFC to get away with lawlessness, APNU+AFC did succeed in their goal. They bought almost two long weeks. Clearly, they know they are abusing the court. Clearly, they know they are wrong.

But their goal is to prevent a declaration of the legitimate results. They intend to defer the declaration for as long as possible. They will find other frivolous reasons to approach the court and they will do so until the court refuses to play along.

It is not just that APNU+AFC's actions is blocking democracy, more insidious wickedness is afoot. APNU+AFC is inciting people. They have misled their supporters and, although many of these persons have figured out the gamesmanship, there are still people who believe the lies they are being fed. APNU+AFC is deliberately creating tension for violent reaction by their supporters. The court must stop this nonsense. Civil society must stand up vigorously to this wickedness. The world must no longer wait, the world must act so that the thieves, the rigging cabal, find no comfort zone.

For one, the courts must not allow anyone to approach it with frivolous claims.

The Court of Appeal must tell them that the matter they are appealing is res judicata and, therefore, they have no right to appeal. Even if the courts agree, the stretching out of the process is unconscionable and plays into the hands of APNU+AFC. Maybe the Court of Appeal has to grant them their request, but this matter must be disposed of in the shortest possible time. To stretch the hearing process to last a whole week or more plays into the hands of APNU+AFC. They know they have no legal standing. They are just buying time.

The court must act so that whatever time they buy is not very meaningful. The CCJ must do the same. Since the goal is to buy time, do not give them any meaningful extension of time.

The court is being abused, being used as an unwilling pawn in the current election debacle. Guyana needs a government and the elections were judged up to E-Day to have met all criteria for free and fair elections.

The skullduggery and jiggery-pokery have been only in the post-election day processes.

While the court has conducted itself within its laws and obligations, the court has become a pawn for APNU+AFC. It is time to end the charade.

Regards, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

hile browsing through the news feed on my Facebook profile, I came across a sponsored post under the profile name of Moses Nagamootoo. I was intrigued and began to read.

I was appalled at the vitriolic, diatribe I was reading. The deliberate misinformation, unashamedly, contained with the missive was shocking. However, in retrospect, I ought not to be for I have listened to campaign speeches prior to the 2015 elections from Mr. Nagamootoo and have witnessed his actions thereof, after assuming Office.

In his missive, the first few sentences painted a totally different reality from that which obtains in Guyana, as it relates to the 2nd March 2020 National and Regional elections. It is no secret that the APNU+AFC Coalition lost those elections and have tried at every stage to thwart the will of the electorate.

In the interest of time and becoming overly repetitive, I will omit the details of those actions. However, the world over is aware of the constant attempts to commit electoral fraud by the Coalition.

Commendably, the world did not stay silent. On an almost daily basis, the US, Canada, UK, EU, Norway, Brazil; both international and local organisations, such as The Carter Center, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, CARICOM, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and many more have spoken out against the Coalition and their attempts to frustrate, stymie and thwart the will of the electorate.

In fact, after these statements and pleadings with the Coalition to allow the will of the electorate to prevail fell on deaf ears, the US State Department went a step further and imposed sanction on the Granger Administration and other actors in the ploy to derail Guyana from Her democratic path. In an attempt to defend the sanctions and support the contentions of his political masters at Congress Place – the Headquarters of the leading political party within the APNU+AFC Coalition – Mr. Nagamootoo

quoted extensively from two members of the US Congress, namely, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

However, the contentions of the two members of Congress are hopelessly flawed. In fact, Mr. Nagamootoo’s very next paragraph provides the learned mind with the reasoning of why that is so.

Like other leaders of the APNU+AFC Coalition, Mr. Nagamootoo, parrots the argument of “sovereignty”. Over the past 140 odd days since the 2nd March 2020 elections were held, any official from any foreign country, international observer mission to Guyana, Diplomat, and others who speak out against the Coalition’s blatant attempts to rig those elections were met with the argument that Guyana is a “sovereign nation” and “outsiders should keep out of our affairs”.

While states are still main actors in international relations and principles such as territorial integrity, and enjoy the right of non-intervention, rights over the sea and the skies, which are a few examples of this tenet, the rights to sovereign immunity have evolved, particularly within the last few decades. States are not absolutely immune, and their rights must be balanced with their duties or responsibilities.

Simply put, Governments are not allowed to get away with everything any longer, especially in relation to human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 21 (3) states: “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections…therefore, in my view, to deny the will of the people and denying genuine elections, one is committing a human rights violation.”

In the 21st century, surely the APNU+AFC Coalition did not think that the world would try a blind eye as they try to thwart the will of the electorate and steal an entire Government in an attempt to hold on to Executive power.

Sincerely, Roodi Balgobin

Burke’s incendiary racist... (From page 4) organizations, which have condemned the attempts to rig the elections. He argues that they are all victims of misinformation by the PPP, which he describes as a murderous organization. His state of insanity prevents him from recognizing that it is impossible for all these organizations and international statesmen and stateswomen to be so gullible that they will fall prey to the PPP’s narrative if it was not factual.

The same level mental ineptitude prevents him from recognizing that no one buys APNU+AFC’s narrative other than themselves.

His incendiary racist and inflammatory outpourings are simple dangerous to the stability of our country and threatens peace, order and the good governance of Guyana. That he does not live here, con-

tributes not a single tax-paying dollar to this country and will not have to endure the ethnically driven violence that he is promoting, simply compound the issue.

Certainly at the appropriate time, the State of Guyana may wish to examine his publications with a view of instituting the appropriate criminal charges, all of which are extraditable offences.

In the meanwhile, I respectfully invite the US State Department to examine this man’s ramblings and to consider whether he should not be visited with sanctions.

Alas, he does his wickedness from within the US itself.

Sincerely, Anil Nandlall, PPP Executive

6

Fiscal management

by Coalition an abysmal failure Dear Editor,

T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) have increased all taxes col-

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020 This increase in total expenditure was mainly due to increases in the current expenditure to $207.7B and to the capital expenditures to G$66.2B in 2019, which represented increases by G$73.9B or 55% higher and by G$15.2B or 30% higher, respectively, when compared to 2014. So it is clear from this breakdown in spending’s that the APNU/ AFC administration spent proportionately much lower in capital investment projects, that would have contributed to the obvious stagnation in the growth of employment opportunities.

In addition to the spending increases, the

Central Government overall borrowings has widened to G$30B deficit (i.e. $30B in RED or an OVERDRAFT) in 2019, which represented an increase by G$ 20.7B or 222 %, when compared to 2015 . This would explain the reasons for the overall Current Account balances at G24.3B and capital account of G$54.3B in deficit in 2019 as shown in the Bank of Guyana, Annual Report 2019.

Further the GDP at market rate has shown increase by $162B over the period 2014 to 2019 as shown in the bar chart below and based on preliminary numbers in 2019.

lected by G$89B or 65% higher from G$226B in 2019 compared to G$137B collected in 2014, as shown in the bar chart below.

Source: Bureau of Statistics, National Accounts Department

Source: Annual Reports 2014 to 2019, Bank of Guyana

The increases in the total taxes above, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Orgawas mainly due to increased Income Taxes nization, a typical developing country like (including Personal, Private Companies Guyana should be collecting 15 percent of & withholding income taxes) by G$36.9 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in taxes.

Billion or 65% higher, increased VAT & However, we have clearly seen progressive Excise Taxes by G$30.8 Billion or 47% increases from 16.1% of GDP in taxes in higher and increased Trade taxes including 2014 to 20.9% in 2019 based on the preImport/Export duties by G$11.5 Billion or liminary 2019 GDP figures as shown in the 86% higher during the period 2014 to 2019, line chart below. respectively.

Such increases in tax revenue, whilst may seem like good performance, it must be measured relative to Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and other economic indicators such as unemployment and public debts position in order to ensure its overall impact does not create heavy tax burden and thereby served to stifle economic activities by curtailing disposable income and thus spending abilities.

In this regard, according the Source of GDP: Bureau of Statistics, Guyana The increased tax collection trend, relative overall increase by G$89B or 48% higher to GDP as depicted in the chart above, have compared to 2014as shown in the bar chart clearly indicated progressively higher revenue below. collections, which likely have created a heavier burden on taxpayers. This problem was even further exacerbated by the increased non-tax revenue to G$14.7B in 2019, which was G$5.6B or 23% higher compared to 2014 and similarly capital receipts including grants and debt relief have increased to G$12B in 2019.

The higher revenue collected has correspondingly led to increase in total Government expenditure to G$274B in 2019, which represented an Source: Annual Reports 2014 to 2019, Bank of Guyana

From the above, any rational thinking Guyanese should be asking the now de-facto Finance Minister to explain how such apparently healthy growth rates have benefitted people on the ground over the last 5 years?

And more specifically, he should be asked how such growth rates, have not been translated into similar improvements in the unemployment levels that are at phenomenally high levels in Guyana.

This Government , before claiming suc-

cess, should at least explain why the overall unemployment rate was recorded at around 12% throughout the 2015 to 2019 period as shown in the bar chart below, whilst the labour participation rate especially for youths remained unchanged at around 50% in the same period. Similarly and importantly explanation is required for just slight improvement in the sustained high youth unemployment recorded at 21.3% in 2019, compared to 21.6% in 2015.

Data source from the World Bank, Macro Trends, Guyana Labor Force Participation Rate

Job losses and lower recruitment was very prevalent in the public corporations, which have shown consistent declined in employment growth from 2015 to 2019 as per the Bank of Guyana, annual reports. In 2017, a decline by 9.7% was reported mainly due to the Guysuco estate closures. Similarly, this was escalated by further decline in 2018 by 29.4% and in 2019 by another 6%. Also, whilst minimum wages have increased by a total of G$27.3K per month or 64% higher from 2014 to 2019, the central government wages increases as a percentage of GDP have just increased by 0.8% between the period from 2014 to 2018 as per available data published by Bank of Guyana.

In summary, this analysis of the overall fiscal management performance of the Government clearly shows an abysmal failure in terms of sustaining better employment growth levels, despite the GDP and spending growth. There is absolutely no doubt that this APNU/AFC Government have indeed failed our country through their lack of meritocratic leadership practices, which largely led to the sustained economic struggles faced by the average low and middle income class citizens.

Guyana will never achieve its true potential if such practices are allowed to persist.

Sincerely, Sam Ramtahal

7

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Hinds distorts history to justify his misleading rants Dear Editor,

T

he July 9, 2020 issue of Kaieteur News carried a letter by David Hinds, in which he falsified history and totally misrepresented the man he called his hero, Walter Rodney.

He did all of this to try to instigate African Guyanese to defend the crimes of the PNC and their attempt to steal the government by attempting to commit fraud in the March 2, 2020 elections in this country.

In his attempt, Hinds transported the race relations history of the US into our Guyanese society. He said that his interlocutor will “never be a George Floyd” because he is not Afro, but this is just designed to mislead in our Guyanese context.

The post-slavery history of the Caribbean is very different from the post-slavery history of the United States. In the US, the form of relations was modified, and African-Americans continued to be confronted by racism. They had to resist segregation, and a lot of that kind of relationship lingers to this day.

In the post-colonial period in the Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean people were not segregated in the societies. They did face issues like the African-Americans did. Indeed, from a race point of view, it was Afro-Caribbean people

who played the most prominent role in the region.

In our own Guyana, the PNC emphasised race to support colonial domination, and engineered racial clashes to cause the delay of independence and install themselves in power.

They have since used racism like a knee on the throats of the whole nation, stifling social and economic progress of all Guyanese.

Make no mistake about it, the PNC/APNU/ AFC does not represent the interest of the African-Guyanese working people. Even the African-Guyanese business people are not represented by the PNC/APNU. The PNC/APNU represents a tiny cabal that has accumulated great wealth during the Burnham period and now. Race serves as a smokescreen to allow this cabal to exploit the Guyanese masses, including the vast majority of African-Guyanese workers and farmers.

However, by using the history of Black people in the US, and by integrating it with lies like PPP/Civic killed hundreds of Black people, the PNC/APNU have succeeded in creating a false consciousness among a great amount of the African masses in this country about a ‘coolie domination’. Actually, Indians, more than any other group, have been the victims of PNC/APNU racism. They were the

ones that had to bear that cross, suffering both as working people and because of PNC use of racism.

But Hinds did not only mix up our history to justify his descent into the morass of racism, he criminally tried to ‘recruit’ Rodney in that diabolical attempt. The same Walter Rodney who spent his short adult life fighting against racism and for working class unity here and abroad.

Hinds, in quoting Rodney, took him completely out of context, and even tried to turn Rodney into a PNC man. This is unpardonable. This is sick.

Rodney toiled tirelessly to show that Black Power analysis in the US and the Caribbean had to be seen differently. This is how he put it in one of his conversations, published in the book ‘Walter Rodney Speaks’. He said that while in Jamaica: “…trying to formulate questions of struggle…. from time to time I did refer back to the Guyanese situation, trying to make it clear that the way in which one was using the word ‘Black’ in a West Indian context must of necessity embrace the majority of African and Indian populations.

And the reason I did that was because I knew that the word ‘black’ could well be interpreted in a narrow sense to mean African, and hence anti-Indian…”.

He went on to refer to Stokely Carmichael’s visit to Guyana in the late 1960s/early 1970s. here is what he said: “…Brother Stokely Carmichael was in Guyana on one occasion – I wasn’t there at the time – and he didn’t help the situation very much by introducing what was essentially an alien, that is, a North American, conception of what race was about…”

Rodney was extremely clear and honest in his analysis, unlike David Hinds. He never believed that PNC represented African Guyanese interests. Here is what he had to say more than forty years ago: “… African Guyanese who look around them today recognize that their material and social and political condition had not advanced. Rather, in many cases, it may have declined in spite of the existence of this

so-called African Government”.

It sounds as if he was speaking about the Granger regime today. Unfortunately, Hinds is now one of the main defenders and promoters of the elite that has its knee on our throats.

He falls squarely in this category that Rodney saw and expressed disgust within. Here is how Walter put it in his own inimitable style: “…

For a small nation, Guyana has produced a discouragingly large number of lackeys and stooges who hide in the shadow of the ‘Comrade Leader’…”. This is exactly where David Hinds is, one of the ‘lackies’, one of the tools that PNC/APNU used to continue the rape of our nation.

I close with another important advice that Rodney left us, one that is of great relevance.

“No ordinary Afro-Guyanese, no ordinary Indo-Guyanese can afford to be misled by the myth of race. Time and time again, it has been our undoing…”. He uttered those words at a public meeting at the corner of Durban Street & Louisa Row in defending a PPP activist, Arnold Rampersaud.

Today, it is in the interest of all Guyanese to heed that message and stand up and defend Democracy; to defend free and fair elections; to live in a country that operates with laws, and where the Constitution is respected. Those are fundamental pillars for social and economic development of the state and its people. Those are indispensable in moving towards a more just society.

We must frustrate the efforts of the likes of David Hinds, who seek to divide us and condemn us to perpetual poverty under the guise of ‘defending’ black people.

We must reject the imposition of another country’s history upon us, and must defend the stalwarts and heroes like Walter Rodney, and not allow their teachings to be taken out of context to achieve the opposite of what he, Rodney, stood for.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar, Former President

Historic erosion of our nation’s democratic values Dear Editor,

C

aretaker President David Granger and his cabal have pushed Guyana and its people to the precipice. He has his knee on the throat of the nation staring down an abyss fraught with disastrous consequences.

What we are witnessing is an attempt to wheelbarrow Guyana back to the past with some changes to the script and in the cast, but the objective remains the same, stay put!

It’s like backwards ever, forward never.

This time around however, the Guyanese people have repudiated electoral banditry and have refused to willingly participate in their own suppression and surrender to authoritarian rule.

Guyana’s parliamentary democracy faces grave danger of collapsing into tyrannical rule by a bureaucratic elite bent solely on personal power and material aggrandizement.

As the masquerading at court by the jesters continue, Guyana stands delicately poised a few steps away from being branded a pariah or rogue state by the international community thanks to the selfish and power hungry clique of three plus seven.

Mr. Granger must know that just because he’s not smelling it, means he’s not making it.

In other words, he cannot feign ignorance of the treacherous waters into which he has consciously steered the ship of state due to his reckless, quasi constitutional actions and his refusal to concede his loss of power.

Mr. Granger has put Guyana to shame especially when consideration is given to the fact that other nations have held their elections long after ours and have already sworn in their Head of State or Prime Minister.

Viewed in today’s context, two video clips of March and May 2015 respectively, currently circulating on social media, reveal the unashamed hypocrisy of Mr. Granger, who, as the then Opposition Leader, could be seen and heard crowing over the speed with which a declaration of the results of elections ought to be made and how sanctions can impact Guyana.

And as if to add insult to injury, Mr. Granger unabashedly, keeps peddling the myth to the gullible and unsuspecting, that with his magic potion and his abra ka dabra incantation, he can work a miracle that would allow his disreputable coalition to remain in office. It is called, living in a fool’s paradise.

When consideration is given to the track record of the three plus seven cabal since the passage of the No Confidence Motion, they certainly cannot be categorized as sensible, right-thinking politicians.

Any attempt to assess the cabal through the eyes of a normal person would be flawed, since we are dealing with a bunch of individuals who seem to be either Amtorians or Pfifltriggians visiting from Mars or Venus.

This brings us to the rather strange, if not bizarre uttering by Mr. Granger outside State House, to what he described as “some bad elements” who attempted to “manipulate” the votes.

This is not only a far cry from the truth, it is phantasmic, crude and an unadulterated attempt to deceive.

Here we have legitimate voters who won the elections being labelled ‘bad elements’ by those who try barefacedly to steal an election. It is logic turned upside down.

To condemn the winners of the March 2, elections as ‘bad elements’ is to be totally insen-

sitive and insulting with sanctimonious mockery towards hundreds of thousands, who voted the APNU+AFC out of office and to harbour a delusion that ‘It is I who am the victor, not the vanquished.’

Within the meaning of CARICOM’s ‘Charter for Civil Society’, and the OAS ‘Inter-American Democratic Charter,’ Granger’s behaviour is a reflection of the extent to which the coalition’s threadbare ethical and moral values have fallen.

Never before in our country’s history has our nation’s democratic values been eroded to such an alarming extent.

Efforts to pull our country away from the precipice was vividly demonstrated thus far, by the people’s choice during the count at the place of poll and the recount at the Convention Center; at the High Court, the Appeal Court and the Caribbean Court of Justice where learned Counsels representing the opposition parties fought tenaciously to win legal battles in the name of justice and fair play as well as by the thousands in the letter columns of the dailies and social media, who wrote in support of democracy, free and fair elections, for democratic and inclusive governance. The international community has thrown out a lifeline to rescue Guyana from the clutches of the cabal.

These antecedents if not halted, pose a serious threat to our democratic way of life. Cumulatively, they hang ominously like the sword of Damocles over the nation. This ignominious trajectory must be rejected, less too late! too late be the cry.

Guyanese, irrespective of race, class or political persuasion must not allow the three plus seven cabal to make us gaze helplessly into the abyss of failure and destruction.

When one of Mr. Granger’s own supporters shouted out aloud, “Tell us what we want to hear, not what you want to tell us,” during the fracas

outside State House that afternoon, what was he signalling to his leader? What was it he wanted hear? And, what was it he was not interested in hearing from Granger?

Was the man responding to his violent impulses? Did he feel morally obligated to do something after what he was continuously fed by Granger?

Was he asking Granger to tell him to take to the streets to uproot the peaceful lives of law abiding Guyanese and to terrorize and drive fear in the business community?

Had the man lost faith in his leader in light of the constant lies and elections fatigue knowing that Granger had lost the elections but was not prepared to concede so that the nation could move on?

Did the man go away feeling satisfied with what Granger told him about the ‘bad elements’ and that “we will continue to fight to make sure your votes are counted?” Did this make sense to the man whose common sense told him otherwise?

In the current circumstances, Mr. Granger must recognize that a large body of his supporters has come to the realization that the coalition has lost the elections.

Compounded by the excruciating conditions imposed on the nation as a result of COVID-19, the cabal of three plus seven must, hard as it might be, console themselves with the thought that conceding defeat might be a better option and a source of comfort because with it ‘comes a calm passage made across many a bad night.’

The longer the cabal of three plus seven refuses to concede, the longer we will stare into the abyss. And if we gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into us.

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Op-Ed: Granger and his gang of brigands continue to undermine Guyana’s very democratic foundation

By Gail Teixeira

I

f it weren’t for the tragic situation facing our country one would have howled with laughter at the comical yet duplicitous performances of the two Guyana de facto Ministers before the OAS Permanent Council on July 21, 2020.

The de facto Government clearly had decided that the stage for this disgraceful exposure of a compendium of lies, misrepresentation, and fork-tongued diatribe would be most appropriate at the OAS. A specially convened meeting of the OAS Permanent Council at the request of the Secretary General to discuss a specific situation in a member state is not a common occurrence. It is not one that is treated lightly and frivolously by the OAS Secretary General or by any of the 35 member states of the Permanent Council.

The fact that such a meeting was convened at the request of the Secretary General, Mr. Luis Almagro, to consider the state of the electoral process in Guyana (CP/INF.8700/20) on July 21, 2020 was a momentous occasion. The electoral situation after 141 days with no end in sight was one the OAS Secretary General could not be found wanting in allowing a member state to continue to flagrantly derail the elections and the will of the Guyanese people in open violation of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Guyana had failed the litmus test of democracy – the peaceful transition after a free and fair, transparent elections-- and therefore must face the hemispheric body. The fact that was has transpired in Guyana since December 21, 2018, and more particularly since March 2, 2020, has never happened in this hemisphere nor anywhere else in the world was

not lost on the member states.

After 141 days since the March 2, 2020, the OAS – like the CARICOM, Commonwealth and European Union – made its position known once again but this time at its highest forum that it would not accept the efforts of the Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition and key GECOM officials to hijack the elections in Guyana and keep an illegitimate government in office.

Of special and notable significance was that the members of the OAS Permanent Council members spoke with one voice at the meeting and this in itself is historic and not one to be belittled.

The 22 member states who spoke were unanimous in calling for the recount results to be used in the declaration of the elections of March 2, 2020; that this situation had gone on for far too long and there must be a swift end to this with the transition to

the legitimate government that was elected by the people on March 2, 2020; that “the world knows who won the election’; and, that there should be no further recourse to the courts to impede the declaration of the results and thwart the will of the Guyanese people.

The Secretary General words – “This is a historic turning point for Guyana.

Without a doubt this will define its future….action against Guyana could be taken if the situation does not change” – is a warning shot of great import to the hemisphere. No OAS Secretary General speaks carelessly; he heads an organization that brings together all 35 independent states of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in this Hemisphere. In addition, it has granted permanent observer status to 69 states, as well as to the European Union

(EU). This meeting will impact on Guyana’s future, no doubt about that.

Not surprising, and sadly, the only two ‘oddballs’ in the virtual room were the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Karen Cummings and de facto Attorney General Basil Williams who, as usual, were oblivious to the historic nature and purport of the meeting; they belittled the gravity of when one’s country is the special subject of discussion before this powerful hemispheric organization.

Instead they thought they were going to gaff and spin their wicked false narratives as they have done repeatedly to their supporters, on the cheap rag-taggle Benschop tv programme, and in inane and inciting facebook posts.

What in fact they did was ‘thumb their noses’ at this prestigious body.

The line taken by Cummings and Williams, was reflected in Cummings letter

to the OAS on July 19, 2020, which she read from replete with baseless allegations.

These two faithfully spun the false narrative of the Granger-led APNU-AFC Coalition, with downright lies, distortions, and misrepresentations.

They went so far as to repudiate the rulings of the Chief Justice of July 20th and the Caribbean Court of Justice rulings of July 8th, 2020 and to throw out the CARICOM Scrutinizing Report of the recount with one distortion after another.There was no indication that they actually cared about what was transpiring or were concerned for our country and its people. It was all bravado in an occasion that warranted the utmost seriousness. No one could escape the conclusion that this was a mere annoyance that the Granger-led APNUAFC Coalition had to endure at the OAS. In the face of the profound and detailed report of (Turn to page 18)

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

Dishonesty, indecency of Granger-led cabal knows no bounds

D

avid Granger and his APNU+AFC sycophants wear indecency and dishonesty as a badge of honor. But many persons still had hopes that David Granger, at least, would have a limit to his indecency and dishonesty. The truth really hurts because, for those who gave him the benefit of the doubt, Granger has proven beyond any doubt that his indecency and dishonesty have no bounds. On almost a daily basis, Granger's and APNU+AFC Coalition’s dishonesty and indecency are being exposed.

On July 21, 2020, Karen Cummings, Guyana's de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs, was sent by Granger to represent him and APNU+AFC at a special meeting called by the OAS to discuss the electoral rigging that the OAS observers reported.

Every member-country of the OAS denounced the ongoing attempts to thief the elections in Guyana. Every country insisted Granger and APNU+AFC must immediately desist from using the judiciary as part of its theft of the elections. Cummings promised the OAS that Granger

will accept the declaration GECOM makes, whenever GECOM does make the declaration. She told the OAS that Granger asked her to let them know he will accept GECOM's declaration.

Granger on multiple occasions himself promised to accept GECOM's declaration.

Both the CCJ and the CJ of Guyana have indicated that GECOM is bound to use the recount results as the basis for its declaration.

But, egregiously, Granger and APNU+AFC immediately exposed further their dishonesty and indecency.

They added further proof they are holding Guyana hostage, as the OAS concluded themselves. On the same day, Cummings and the Attorney General, Basil Williams, were begging the OAS to be patient, that Granger is only waiting for GECOM to declare the results which he will accept, APNU+AFC frivolously and vexingly appealed the Chief Justice's rulings which were made on July 20. This now prevents GECOM from making the declaration which Granger supposedly is waiting on.

This action further proves

the OAS was not overstating the case against Granger and APNU+AFC when it concluded they were using the judiciary as a pawn in their delaying and thieving tactics.

The Guyana Appeals Court is now scheduled to have a hearing on Saturday, July 25. By the time, the COA makes its ruling, it will be almost five months since the elections were held.

Even more egregiously, just one day after Cummings and Williams appeared in front of and promised the OAS that Granger and APNU+AFC will accept GECOM"s declaration, insisting they have never and will never interfere with GECOM's independence, APNU+AFC issued a statement that they will not accept GECOM's declaration if it used the recount results.

They claimed that only one of Lowenfield's multiple fraudulent reports, two based on Mingo's fraud, another based on Lowenfield's arbitrary discard of more than 115,000 votes and another on Lowenfield's fraudulent discard of 175,000 votes will be accepted. This is asking GECOM to commit a crime.

This is not just interference, it is intimidation and coercion of an independent, statutory body to commit fraud, electoral fraud, electoral theft.

In issuing their despicable statement, they have unequivocally threatened GECOM, the country and the global stakeholders, including CARICOM, the Commonwealth, the OAS, the ABCE countries, the UN, essentially the whole world, that either GECOM makes a fraudulent declaration for Granger to be illegally sworn in as President or Guyana will be embroiled in violence. They can huff and puff, they can spin all they want, this is what indecency and dishonesty look like. Having been blocked in their open, in plain sight, attempt to thief the elections, they then tried to use the judiciary to help them thief the elections.

While the use of the judiciary has helped them to delay the elections, the judiciary has not fully cooperated for them to thief the elections. Having been brutally slapped by Guyana's High Court and the CCJ, they

are trying one more time with the COA, knowing they can only succeed in further delaying the swearing in of President Irfaan Ali, the actual winner of the elections.

They realize that they cannot use the judiciary for any further delaying.

Now, they have decided to come out into the open and formally issue their threat give them what they want or they will resort to what they do best - violent protests "slow fyah, mo fyah". At the same time, they have given another option - if GECOM cannot declare them the winner, then maybe the political parties can agree for shared governance, with Granger as President.

The PPP won, free and fair. The PPP won by more than 15,000 votes. APNU+AFC lost by almost 25,000 votes. GECOM must not be intimidated. GECOM is obligated to declare the winner. On the evening of March 2, GECOM knew who the winner was. They had in their possession several copies of the 2,339 Statements of Poll prepared by GECOM's hand-picked presiding officers. Having been forced into

a recount, GECOM chose its staff to do the recount, Granger chose the only international observer allowed, deeming CARICOM as the most "legitimate interlocutor" and Lowenfield supervised the recount. Justice Claudette Singh was present throughout. At the end of the recount, GECOM knew that the recount affirmed what they knew from the original SOPs, that the PPP won by over 15,000 votes.

The ballots cast on March 2 were counted twice and both times showed the exact results - the PPP won. Dr. Irfaan Ali is President. It has been almost five months.

GECOM has not been able to make a declaration because of the shenanigans of Granger's APNU+AFC and a rigging cabal in GECOM, consisting of APNU+AFC's commissioners and Lowenfield and some in his secretariat.

The time has come for this travesty to end. The time has come for those who gave David Granger the benefit of the doubt to now understand that Guyana is being held hostage by an indecent, dishonest man.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

PPP/C will 'fiercely resist' undemocratic electoral outcome - Jagdeo

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f the APNU+AFC Coalition leader, David Granger Granger and “his band of riggers” believe that they can continue to hang on to office after the declaration has been made then they are living in a fool's world, according to General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo.

In comments responding to a statement by the APNU+AFC Coalition on Wednesday (July 22, 2020), he said, “In a statement issued yesterday the APNU+AFC said that it will not be accepting any declaration based on the figures derived from the National Recount.

“This is in clear defiance of the international community, the Chief Justice, the CCJ and GECOM who have

all made it clear that any declaration has to be made on the basis of the figures from the recount, and also in contrast to earlier statements

by President Granger that he will accept any declaration made by GECOM.” The Coalition, in its statement, had said, “A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC Coalition) is committed to a lawful and credible declaration of results based on valid votes…. the APNU+AFC Coalition is resolved to ensure that fraudulent votes, cannot be factored in to represent the will of the electorate. Any attempt to include fraudulent votes in a ‘Declaration’ will constitute a violation of the Constitution and the funda-

mental principles of democracy. We maintain that the Elections Commission can only make a ‘Declaration’ based on valid votes. The recount process which was conducted, painstakingly, for thirty-three days revealed massive irregularities and extensive fraud which cannot be foisted on the Guyanese people to contrive an outcome that betrays the will of the electorate.”

Jagdeo charged that no one should be suprised at what is taking place, since the PNC which Granger leads and which is essentially the APNU+AFC, has a history of not accepting the results of every election that they have lost since 1992.

The PPP General Secretary said, “. If the inter-

national community was prepared to condemn and levy sanctions against people who are trying to undermine democracy, even before the declaration, just imagine the consequences the riggers will face if they refuse to leave office after the declaration - essentially staging a coup d'etat. Needless to say, such a move will be met by fierce resistance by the PPP and other forces fighting for democracy.”

He stressed that the task at hand is working to ensure that a final declaration based on the results of the national recount is made. “What we

have to do now is to work to ensure that we have a declaration that is reflective of the will of the people and only one that is derived from the figures generated by the national recount can produce such an outcome,” Jagdeo said.

He also repeated his call for Guyanese to remain call.

“I urge Guyanese at this stage not to be too concerned about whether they will accept the declaration or not as we will cross that bridge when we get there. The consequences for Granger and the APNU+AFC at that time will be as alluded to by Secretary General of the

OAS, Luis Almagro – ‘Democracy or Abyss’,”Jagdeo posted.

Blatant violation of COVID-19 order….

Coalition plans 23 meetings in two days to push political narratives

Opposition-nominated ‒ communities still without support during pandemic GECOM Commissioners I condemn attacks on Chair

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he personal attacks being lobbed at the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh, are vile and have no place in a democratic society, according to the three Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners, Sase Guraj, Bibi Shadick and Robeson Benn.

In a joint statement on Thursday (July 23, 2020), the trio said, “It seems to have become the norm that individuals and organizations that take actions or make statements which appear to be averse to the rigging agenda are subject to various

kinds of attacks.

“Recently, the vilest attacks have been directed towards Justice Claudette Singh, Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, presumably for the firm stance she has taken in rejecting the fraudulent reports presented and insisting that only the recount figures be presented to the Commission for the purposes of a declaration of final elections results.

“While Commissioners may not always agree with the Chairman, she has always discharged her duties with professionalism, fairness and impartiality, and in

keeping with the tenets of the Constitution and other legal provisions.

“We unreservedly condemn these scurrilous attacks on the Chairman and call upon those engaged in such conduct, including senior members of the APNU+AFC, a contestant in these elections, to cease and desist from so doing.”

Recently, one man was arrested for a death threat against the GECOM Chair, while recently, supporters of the APNU+AFC Coalition conducted a mock funeral of the Chair, using an effigy that was stomped on and placed in the a makeshift coffin.

n blatant violation of their own COVID-19 measures, which prevent gathering of more than 10 people, the APNU+AFC Coalition is now using taxpayers’ monies for a twoday outreach to several communities, mostly Amerindian, starting Saturday (July 25, 2020).

On Saturday (July 25, 2020), a total of 13 meetings are planned to take place in Region 2 at from 9:30 hours – the last meeting being set for Tapakuma, where the Coalition’s Dawn Hastings-Williams is scheduled to appear. The other meetings are scheduled for: Charity, Dartmouth, Queenstown, Suddie, Anna Regina, Danielstown, Good Hope, Upper Pomeroon, Lower Pomeroon, Capoey, Mashabo and Mainstay. In addition to Hastings-Williams, the other speakers in these areas are the Coalition’s Annette Ferguson, Simona Broomes, Gary Best, Ganesh Manipaul, Haimraj Rajkumar and George Norton.

The following day, Saturday (July 26, 2020), 10 meetings are scheduled to be held in Region 3, including at: Parika, Vergenoegen, Den Amstel, Utivlugt, Phoenix Park, Good Intent, Parfait Harmonie, Crane, De Kinderen and Bagotville. The speakers in these areas are: David Patterson, Joseph Harmon, Christopher Jones, Amna Ally and

Ronald Bulkan.

Additional documents seen by the Mirror Newspaper, including a letter signed by the Coalition’s Amna Ally, who is listed as ‘Director of Field Operations’, indicate that the all meetings will be indoors.

This move is a likely maneuver to avoid having to attain the approvals from the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

INITIATIVES TAKEN Notably, the APNU+AFC Coalition has been criticized for its lack of support to communities across Guyana, which are battling with the COVID-19 pandemic; its failure to support health workers with protective gear; its mismanagement of the distribution of supplies to hinterland communities; and the inadequate levels of testing, contact tracing and management of the spread of COVID-19.

The ‘Mask-Up’ campaign that was done across the country was initiated by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) via its National COVID-19 Multi-Stakeholders’ Response Forum, under the leadership of PPP/C presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali. The PPP/C decided that it could not rely on the government to take such an urgent national comprehensive approach in

order to protect the population, reduce transmission, save lives, protect health workers and offer relief to the poor and vulnerable, working people and self-employed, and the business community from COVID-19.

This broad based voluntary body will advocate and introduce measures, where possible ---as it is not a governmental body-- to inform and educate our people, improve their access to services, reduce the level of transmission, protect our people, mobilise badly needed resources measures, protect health workers, and address social, economic, financial relief to our people.

Within less than 24 hours, the Forum’s Health Sub-Committee launched the Doctorsonline24hours on COVID-19 Facebook page which allows members of the public to seek answers and get advice from medical doctors. In the last 48 hours several hundreds have used this account. In addition, several social media groups have been set up which allow Guyanese health professionals to interact with colleagues in other parts of the world. Also, in addition to these and the ‘Mask-Up’ campaign, continuing is a countrywide initiative to distribute hampers to vulnerable families across the country.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Guyana’s future depends on democratic conclusion of electoral process ‒ 21 OAS member states calls for declaration based on recount results I

n a historic meeting, the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) considered the state of the electoral process in Guyana on Tuesday (July 21, 2020), as a result of which 21 of the 35 member states called for the finalization of the March 2020 elections using the results from the national recount.

And the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, warned that the actions in the coming days and weeks will, undoubtedly, influence the kind of future the country faces.

He said, “This is a historic turning point for Guyana.

Without a doubt this will define its future…all who are obstructing a declaration (should) be excluded from the process. It is not serving the institutions. It is not serving the democracy, it is not serving President Granger… it is a time for great leaders who can set aside specific interests and inter-party disputes in order to safeguard the system. “…we have been witness to different attempts to block this recount process by judicial means…the blockades were not successful and the process was initiated…but still, some looked for ways to disturb the recount process as was explained by the head of the OAS Observer Mission.

They made unfounded accusations of all forms…. today we know the results of the vote of March 2. “…once the recount was completed, democracy in Guyana was suppressed and the declaration was blocked by another judicial review…I would request that the Court not be resorted to anymore… accept the recount and allow a transition of government in keeping with the will of the people….this must come to an end.

Almagro decried the fact that Guyana seems “held hostage” by a few and stressed that a declaration of election results must be made as soon as possible.

MUCH DAMAGE DONE The OAS Secretary General’s comments took into consideration a report by the Head of the OAS Election Observation Mission to Guyana and former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding.

He recounted the events leading up to Tuesday’s meeting and stressed that the actions of a few have wreaked damage to Guyana’s

denied. It should be noted that GECOM has not been able to declare a result of the elections precisely because supporters of APNU-AFC are encouraged to take the matter to the courts again and again and again. Were this not so, GECOM could have made the declaration long ago.

All considered, he stressed that democracy is threatened in Guyana. “It is democracy that is now international image.

According to him, Guyana has failed the litmus test of democracy. “A litmus test of any democracy is the peaceful and orderly transfer of power that is so ordained by the express will of the people. Sadly Guyana has failed that litmus test. The people of Guyana are not to be blamed. They expressed their will in a commendably peaceful and orderly manner on March 2, but the perni-

tion missions shall advise the Permanent Council, through the General Secretariat, if the necessary conditions for free and fair elections do not exist.”

CARICOM’s CALL Also addressing the OAS Permanent Council, on behalf of 14 CARICOM countries, was the Permanent Council, Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Lou-Anne Gilchrist, who

based on the national recount will mean the thwarting of democracy, according to Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Council representative, Sir Ronald Sanders

threatened; with implications for the Caribbean region and our hemisphere and democracy we must defend and must ensure is delivered,” he said.

MANIPULATION OF ELECTORAL PROCESS Additionally, the representative of Bolivia, Jaime Alonzo Aparicio Otero, also expressed his disappointment in “very strong indications” that there are attempts to manipulate the electoral process in Guyana.

He said, “We call on Guyana to cooperate with the OAS and CARICOM in

“…democracy is being delayed; Democracy is being denied.

It should be noted that GECOM has not been able to declare a result of the elections precisely because supporters of APNU-AFC are encouraged to take the matter to the courts again and again and again. Were this not so, GECOM could have made the declaration long ago.” – Sir Ronald Sanders noted that the regional body has been monitoring with concern, the political tensions in Guyana.

Gilchrist reminded of the calls from the former CARICOM Chairman, Mia Mottley, and the current Chairman, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, for the declaration of the March 2 elections to be based on the results of national recount.

“We urge the relevant authorities in Guyana and all stakeholders to respect the rule of law,” she said, stressing that the Community stands behind the report of the CARICOM observation team that participated in the national recount.

DEMOCRACY DENIED Any outcome that is not the declaration of results

CALL ON APNU+AFC Also, Carlos Alberto Játiva, Representative of Ec-

“This is a historic turning point for Guyana. Without a doubt this will define its future…all who are obstructing a declaration (should) be excluded from the process. It is not serving the institutions. It is not serving the democracy.”

– OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro

“A litmus test of any democracy is the peaceful and orderly transfer of power that is so ordained by the express will of the people. Sadly Guyana has failed that litmus test. The people of Guyana are not to be blamed. They expressed their will in a commendably peaceful and orderly manner on March 2, but the pernicious actions of a few have wreaked considerably damage to Guyana’s image and reputation.” Head of OAS Election Observation Mission, Bruce Golding cious actions of a few have wreaked considerably damage to Guyana’s image and reputation,” he said.

He charged that the actions of the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, in refusing to prepare his final report based on the recount results, but instead moved to invalidate – “by the stroke of a pen” – the votes of over 100,000 Guyanese. This, he stressed, is unacceptable, since the laws of Guyana is clear that only a Court considering an election petition, has that power.

“The people of Guyana did not deserve this…they have been patient for much longer than can reasonably be expected while they await the results of a process that was by all accounts well conducted on Election Day. They must wholeheartedly be commended for this. They deserve a peaceful transition of government based on the majority vote as reflected in the recount and in support of democracy and the rule of law,” Golding stressed.

Notably, Article 25 states that: “The electoral observa-

the country…this needs to happen as soon as possible for Guyana to re-join democratic countries that are committed to the most lofty principles of democracy.”

According to him, Brazil stands by its statement that a declaration must be made soon based on the official recount results.

He said, “Democracy is not being served. Nor is the people of Guyana’s right to democracy being served.

And democracy delayed is democracy denied. “…the national recount that was certified by each of the supervisors of each of the regions in Guyana showed that the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic had won the election. But despite, the best efforts of CARICOM, utilizing all its institutions, including the final Appellate Court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), one party has persistently delayed acceptance of the result and frustrated a democratic and peaceful end to this matter. “…democracy is being delayed; Democracy is being

having a peaceful and democratic transition of government although the process has already caused great damage to their international image.”

NO SILENCE Importantly, the representative of Brazil, Fernando Simas Magalhães, stated that his country cannot stand by in silence and watch democracy derided.

He said, “We cannot stand by while there is a break from democratic principles that we all committed to...at such a delicate time, it is important for the legitimate will of the popular vote be upheld, in line with rulings of the CCJ, to ensure the swift announcement of the new authorities in

uador, underscored the fact that a recount was held and approved by international observers such as CARICOM, OAS, and the European Union, among others.

As such, he issued a direct call to the Coalition to allow a peaceful and democratic transition of the government.

ADHERE TO DEMOCRACY Venezuela’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Gustavo Tarre Briceño, stressed that the OAS has a responsibility to ensure democracy is adhered to.

Further, the reps from the Canada, Columbia and Chile and United States of America also made similar urging as their colleagues.

Representatives from Guyana were also afforded an opportunity to address the OAS Permanent Council.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) was represented by its prime ministerial candidate, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips and Anil Nandlall. The de facto APNU+AFC Coalition government was represented by Karen Cummings and Basil Williams.

The Charter of the Organization of American States recognizes that representative democracy is indispensable for the stability, peace, and development of the region, and that one of the purposes of the OAS is to promote and consolidate representative democracy.

Further, Article 1 of the Charter states that: “The peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.”

11

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Coalition reps holding undemocratic Protracted delays in conclusion of electoral process positions find themselves isolated at OAS Permanent Council has many consequences ‒ Williams mouths barefaced lies to Council

– Phillips tell OAS Permanent Council

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he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections by over 15,000 votes and the people of Guyana are awaiting a peaceful transition of power, according to PPP/C prime ministerial candidate, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, in remarks to the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) on Tuesday (July 21, 2020).

And he warned that the continued delay in finalizing the electoral process, over 140 days since Guyanese went to the polls, has consequences for good governance. “We are 18 months without a functioning parliament,” Phillips lamented.

On that note, he stressed that the APNU+AFC Coalition must respect the will of the people, rule of law and

the democratic norms and values of the OAS, of which Guyana is a member state.

“The Coalition must concede that they have lost the elections,” the PPP/C prime ministerial candidate said.

Further, he stressed that notwithstanding that fact that a final declaration of election results is yet to be made, the results of the national recount is known regionally and internationally. He added that, in light of this, the shenanigans of the APNU+AFC Coalition, which are preventing a declaration of results and a democratic transition of government, must stop. He said, “The results of the recount will not change; the declaration is just a matter of formality. It is about time the APNU/AFC respect the urging of the international community and allow the

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PPP/C to transition peacefully to the next Government of Guyana.”

Phillips’ brief remarks to the OAS Permanent Council saw him stressing the dangers of further delays in the conclusion of the March 2020 elections, specifically from a security point of view.

Nandlall tells OAS that Coalition’s ‘wrongs’ in delaying declaration of results are undeniable

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he People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) Anil Nandlall, made short work of calling out the APNU+AFC Coalition’s Karen Cummings and Basil Williams for the fallacious positions they took when they appeared before the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) on Tuesday (July 21, 2020).

He trashed the claim that the de facto Coalition government did nothing wrong and bears no responsibility for the protracted delays in concluding the March 2020 electoral process. He pointed to the many times that the three Government-nominated Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) Commissioners have delayed the election process and obstructed GECOM from doing its work. He also pointed to the actions of a cabal in the GECOM Secretariat, as well as the APNU/AFC supporters who have continuously run to the courts to prevent GECOM from declaring the recount results.

Nandlall pointed out that the strategy of the APNU+AFC Coalition leader, David Granger, has always been to hide behind his party’s “minions” and spout platitudes while they under-

mine democracy in Guyana.

One such case was the National Recount, agreed upon by Granger, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and then Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chair, Mia Mottley. Despite committing to abide by the recount, Granger has failed to do so.

“They went to the court to stop the recount from taking place. That case went to the high court, they lost. They went to the Court of Appeal. And the court ruled that GECOM has the power to do that recount. The Court of Appeal endorsed the recount….

Mr Granger went into that agreement and immediately afterwards, while he is hiding in the background and committing himself to the world and to CARICOM

to do this recount, he is using his minions to dismantle that very agreement he entered into,” Nandlall told the OAS Permanent Council.

According to him, while the APNU/AFC coalition continues to undermine democracy, Granger continues to make mouth empty platitudes about his respect for democracy and the rule of law. “They participated in the recount. President Granger, again, like he usually does, expressed his platitudes and made sanctimonious declarations to be bound by the recount. When they realised that they were losing the recount, they started to fabricate these allegations of dead and migrant people voting,” he said.

Nandlall told the OAS Permanent Council that the Coalition’s attempts to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections have been “uncovered, discovered and exposed”, and it is time enough for responsible action to allow for a democratic transition of power.

At the time of the OAS Permanent Council meeting, over 140 days had passed since Guyanese voted in the March 2020 Elections.

he APNU+AFC Coalition has suffered a defeat twice in the past 19 months – after the successful and valid passage of the no-confidence motion in December 21, 2018 and at the polls on March 2, 2020. These facts were acknowledged by the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) when it met to consider the Guyana situation on Tuesday (July 21, 2020) – 578 days since December 21, 2018.

Despite this, the Coalition’s Basil Williams, in a bungled presentation to the OAS Permanent Council, claimed that the Council’s discussion was “premature” and that “no chaotic” situation exists in Guyana.

Williams proceeded to proffer blatant lies to the OAS Permanent Council about the ruling handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

He said, “The CCJ never made a ruling that the results of the recount must be used

by GECOM to determine the results of the elections, that was never a decision of the CCJ.” This comment was in face of mounting pressure from the international community for a declaration of election results based on the outcome of the national recount, which show the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as the winner.

Notably, CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, in delivering the court’s judgement on July 8, 2020, in the Irfaan Ali et al v Eslyn David et al case, said: “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.”

The case turned on whether an Application made to the Court of Appeal by Ms Eslyn David fell under Article 177(4) of the Guyana Constitution. That Article addresses questions as to the validity of an election of a President. Decisions of the Court of Appeal made under that Article are final and cannot be appealed to the CCJ. Ms David’s Application challenged the credibility of the recount, undertaken by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), of the votes cast at the elections held on 2 March 2020. Ms David claimed that GECOM had created a new and completely different legal regime by an Order it had issued (Order 60) authorising the recount and

that GECOM had abdicated its responsibility to determine the election’s credibility.

Further, a press statement from the CCJ after the ruling was handed down said, “The Court noted that it has been four months since the elections were held and that the country has been without a Parliament for well over a year. No one in Guyana, the Court said, would regard this as a satisfactory state of affairs. The Court expressed the fervent hope that there would quickly be a peaceable restoration of normalcy.”

CALLS FOR PATIENCE Meanwhile, the Coalition’s de facto Foreign Affairs Minister, Karen Cummings, in an attempted lecture, urged the OAS to be patient.

She told the OAS that Guyana was a “democratic nation and intends to remain so”. According to her “there is no breakdown of law and order in Guyana”.

Cummings said, “The decision taken by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, and other members of the international community to intervene, to impact the outcome of the elections, while the Supreme Court is still to rule, and the Elections Commission still to make a declaration of the results, is premature. “…. we all agree that international monitors are valued during an election; however , Chair, dictating a desired outcome – that departs from the legal mechanisms in place to resolve electoral disputes, is a disservice to the good people of Guyana and a vile and sinister attempt to sully the will of the people.”

She charged that the OAS should not seek to “influence unduly the constitutional processes” that are ongoing – ignoring the expressed concerns of the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, and OAS member states about the repeated approaches to the court, despite the clear outcome of the national recount.

CRITICIZING CARICOM REPORT The Coalition’s Cummings went as far as attempting to discredit the report of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) team, which participated in the national recount process and declared it acceptable.

She said, “In our estimation it was not a representative sample [that they

observed] and at the end of it all they said it was reasonably credible. It’s either something is credible or it’s not credible…that 18% [of ballot boxes observed] is not a representative sample….it is really unfair to make such a general…it’s a fallacy, a hasty generalization of a process.”

Notably, the CARICOM team in their report said, “The Team did not witness anything which would render de recount, and by extension, the casting of the ballot on March 02, so grievously deficient procedurally or technically. “…the Team viewed much of the exercise as a fishing expedition designed to gather data for a possible election petition and which resulted in considerable time being wasted during the recount. Furthermore, the net was cast extremely wide in the hope of at least making a small catch and at times the anticipated harvest ended in slim pickings. “…the Team did not view the objections raised by the APNU/AFC as materially relevant to the recount of the ballots…we simply have no evidence as to who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the alleged “ghost voting” and voter impersonation. “…nothing that we witnessed warrants a challenge to the inescapable conclusion that the recount results are acceptable and should constitute the basis of the declaration of the results of the March 02, 2020 elections.

Any aggrieved political party has been afforded the right to seek redress before the courts in the form of an election petition.

“We are, however, of the unshakable belief that the people of Guyana expressed their will at the ballot box, and as a result, the three person CARICOM Observer Team concludes that the recount results are completely acceptable.”

Cummings’ comments as the APNU+AFC Coalition leader, David Granger, hailed the CARICOM team as the “most legitimate interlocutor” in the national recount process and committed to accepting the results of the recount.

The Coalition’s Cummings and Williams stood alone at the OAS Permanent Council, with every other stakeholder present supporting the position of the PPP/C, the use of the results of the national recount and supporting a democratic transition of power. [SEE RELATED REPORTING ON PAGE 10]

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Repeated approaches to the court with

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ontinued approaches to the courts have been cited by local stakeholders, as well as those in the regional and international community, as a hindrance to the finalization of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, via a declaration

of final results based on the national recount.

Despite this, the APNU+AFC Coalition persists along this route, even openly using its surrogates, from persons on its List of Candidates for the 2020 Elections to a polling agent. The latest

MARCIA NADIR-SHARMA (LAWYER) said: “Indeed, the litany of legal actions initiated by APNU+AFC, disguised as filings in the names of private citizens, is undisputedly an abuse of process.

It is an abuse of the court’s process, the electoral process and not to mention, a complete defiance of common sense.

“As citizens, we have witnessed repackaged legal challenges that insult the Courts’ and our intelligence. The Court has in essence said that the ongoing attempts to stymie the completion the electoral process, in excess of four months since elections, in favor of a party that does not represent the will of the people, is both unsatisfactory and untenable. At some point, the litigation must stop and GECOM must be allowed to declare the elections on the basis of the National Recount. As Sir Saunders, recently, said ‘Democracy delayed is Democracy denied’.

“APNU+AFC’s continued abuse of processes seeking to protract the inevitable conclusion of the elections hurts ONLY the country and its citizens. Their continued conniving manipulations are at the expense of our failing economy, healthcare and social welfare. At a time when we should be focused on our children going back to school in a pandemic scenario, we have to worry about what other travesty the APNU+AFC Coalition will unleash in defiance of the will of the people. We have suffered epic-scale embarrassment on an international stage! History will not be kind to the APNU+AFC; that is for sure. Nevertheless, every long journey has an end. I have faith in our Courts and the resilience of Guyanese to withstand the mockery and injury to our democracy.”

approach to the court is the filing of an Appeal of a decision of the High Court.

Notably, the acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire, in her ruling of July 20, 2020 said: “Myriad persons cannot be permitted to engage the court

with multiple applications regarding the same issue which has been decided, and shield behind the claim that they were not a party to the previous proceedings. To so permit would be to waste precious judicial time and resources.

In short order- this cannot be

SHERWYN GREAVES (FINANCIAL CONSULTANT) said: “Guyana’s judiciary is one of the important institutions that play a pivotal role in the separation of powers. Our Judiciary is where ordinary citizens can go and seek redress against those more powerful than them and expect to be treated fairly and equitable. As the symbol shows, Lady Justice is blind; she does not see race, class or religion. All are treated fairly.

“It is important that our Judiciary be used with the utmost respect and not be used flippantly.

Unfortunately over the past few months, the APNU+AFC Coalition has been using our Judiciary, all the way to our apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice, as a means to delay the declaration of elections results – in the face of an electoral loss.

Ordinary citizens are looking on in disbelief at the way the process is beign abused. We are also seeing Lawyers, once held in high esteem, being regularly admonished by our Judges for their insipid arguments. We have seen Lawyers openly misrepresenting decisions made by the courts, without any form of disciplinary action being taken against them, or any objection from the courts being misrepresented. The APNU+AFC Coalition must now that enough is enough. That said, the judiciary must firm to the old maxim that ‘Justice delayed, is Justice Denied’.”

DINESH GOSSAI (NDC COUNCILOR) SAID: “It appears that APNU+AFC Coalition is implementing the ‘doctrine of frustration’ with its continued approaches to the courts.

“The Chief Justice’s ruling of July 20th was clear to all the parties that took part in the court case that was filed by Ms. Jones.

How much longer will the APNU+AFC Coalition hold our country hostage? The abuse of all the processes, legal and political, must stop.

“It is time enough and our country has to be allowed to move forward.”

allowed.”

This week the Mirror Newspaper queried views on whether, more than a month after the national recount and more than 140 days since voters went to the polls, the Coalition’s approaches to the Court represented an abuse of

the process. The general consensus was that the arguments advanced by the Coalition in the courts are essentially repackaged and repetitive.

Nevertheless, confidence in the ability of the judiciary to withstand political machinations was expressed.

ROHINI MOOKLALL (ACTIVIST) said: “The Guyanese population, as well as the world at large, was tuned into the ruling by Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George-Wiltshire on 20th July, 2020. We all heard her erudite, comprehensive ruling which was largely based on the Court of Appeal rulings and that of the CCJ. Immediately after the honourable judge have her judgement, one of the lawyers from the herd on retainer by the rigging cabal, brought to attention that they were appealing the ruling. Essentially they are going to ask the Appeal Court to say that their previous ruling was inaccurate and to change the rulings of our apex court.

“We cast our ballots over 140 days ago; more than a month has passed since the recount.

Guyanese people have become wary of these continued machinations. Twelve times in four months that Guyanese have been mentally tortured listening to case after case, having our will tested in this sick game being played by this 'jaundiced' cabal.

“In that context, this is a flagrant abuse of the court process. This is an abuse of state funds.

This is abuse on Guyana and her people. If we continue down this path, Guyana will be eradicated from the social circles of the world and we will be ridiculed for years to come.”

MICHAEL YOUNGE (FREELANCE WRITER) said: “What we are witnessing is undoubtedly an abuse of power, process and the patience of the people.

“It's is more than 140 days since Election Day and the Guyanese people demand the results of the elections be declared. Everything and the lives of everyone is currently on hold, as they wait for the APNU+AFC Coalition to desist of its abuses of both the political and judicial process.

“In the meantime, while we as Guyanese wait on the courts, the executive lawlessness continues. The de facto APNU+AFC Coalition is engaged in all sorts of questionable deals, transactions and other actions. What is clear is that while we fiddle with these irrelevant court proceedings, Guyana is being set on fire.”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

‘repackaged’ arguments a clear abuse of process KRISHNA SEWLALL (AGICULTURE CONSULTANT) said: “The Chief Justice (Ag), Roxane George -Wiltshire dismissed the latest application filed by Misenga Jones, a Counting for the APNU +AFC Coalition. In doing so, the Chief Justice was pellucid in her ruling on critical issues. The latest approach to the Court makes a mockery of the judicial process.

“It has been over 140 days and the situation for ordinary Guyanese is worsening. We want to get back to our normal lives. Guyana needs a democratic transition of government. The people cannot have more delays of a declaration of the election results. Good sense must prevail.

“Currently, the David Granger-cabal has reduced Guyana to a laughing stock on the global stage. The APNU+AFC Coalition must respect the will of the people. Enough is enough.”

ARIANNA SEERAJ (INTERN) said: “Since the APNU+AFC Coalition’s attempts to rig the 2020 elections were revealed and prevented, they have desperately been changing their narratives and running to the courts in a feeble effort to steal the will of the people and hold on to power.

“Their baseless cases have been dismissed multiple times, yet they keep returning to court to appeal these decisions, expecting different outcomes each time. This is a sign not only of insanity, but also abuse of our legal systems.

The Coalition has also adopted an ‘if you’re not with us, you’re against us’ mentality and have unapologetically displayed their arrogance by continuously insulting the intelligence and honour of the objective Judges who actually respect law, order and democracy. The Coalition somehow expects the law to bend to their will and believe that if they go to court enough times to challenge democracy that the outcome will eventually change.

“The world knows that APNU+AFC Coalition lost these elections and they must stop holding the country hostage by utilizing legal systems to prevent the inevitable.”

VICKCHAND RAMPHAL (REGIONAL CHAIRMAN) said: “It has been over 140 days since Guyanese went to the polls to exercise their democratic rights by voting for a political party of their choice - a process where the majority voted in favour of the PPP/C. “In any country where democracy prevails the losing party would have immediately conceded and allowed for a smooth and peaceful transition of government. However, what Guyanese have been treated to is an attempt to thwart their will via maneuverings at GECOM and using the judicial process.

“Over the past few months APNU+AFC would have approach the courts on numerous occasions seeking to prevent the declaration of the results, request interpretation of the election laws, etc. Arguing, essentially, the same thing over and over – how can this not be deemed an abuse of the process?

“The prolonged delay in the declaration of the election results is, undoubtedly, worsening the state of affairs in Guyana. Our people deserve better.”

ZAMAL HUSSAIN (BUSINESSMAN) said: “It is clear that the APNU+AFC Coalition is abusing the judicial process, more so given that the latest appeals filed relate to rulings on issues that have been clearly adjudicated by, not only the High Court, but also Guyana’s apex court of Guyana, the CCJ. These ‘gymnastics’ by APNU+AFC are deliberately delaying the declaration of the result of the March 2, 2020 election.

“It is evident that the abuse of the process is deliberate with the aim of remaining in government. But the inevitable is only being delayed.

Since December 2018, on the successful passage of the no confidence motion, the judicial system is being used by the Coalition to facilitate their continued squatting in office. This cannot continue.

“We must be guarded against the PNC-led cabal. As Guyanese we must stand up and speak out against these dictators.”

ODAYSON ASHBY (PROSPECTOR) said: “The APNU+ AFC Administration and their acolytes have continue to display blatant disrespect and disregards for the judicial process with its filing of yet another appeal – all in the hopes that of preventing a final declaration of election results, based on the national recount, which show that the People Progress Party/ Civic (PPP/C) won by 15,416 votes.

“Despite the sentiments by The Chief Justice Roxanne George, on Monday last (July 20, 2020), urging the Collation to desist from filing frivolous applications pertaining to already adjudicated, the machinations continues.

“Abusing the court process to derail democracy cannot be allowed. The will of the people must prevail; otherwise Guyana will be staring at an abyss that will see the collective future of our people harmed.”

NAZIMA ALLI (ACCOUNTANT) said: “The Caribbean Court of Justice and Guyana’s Appeal and High Courts have ruled clearly on the quintessential arguments raised by the APNU+AFC Coalition via persons on their List of Candidate and, more recently one of their polling agents on Election Day, Misenga Jones. The fact that the judicial process is being abused by the Coalition was underscored by the Chief Justice when she said ‘“Myriad persons cannot be permitted to engage the court with multiple applications regarding the same issue which has been decided…to so permit would be to waste precious judicial time and resources’.

“The democratic will of the people cannot be thwarted using the judiciary and thankfully the judiciary has stood firm, for the most part, in ensuring that this does not happen. The APNU+AFC Coalition unashamedly persist with its approaches to the court to the detriment of our country and the future of the Guyanese people.

“Enough time has passed. It is time for a declaration of election results based on the recount – which is what all the opposition parties, CARICOM, numerous international organisations and several countries, from Canada to Bostwana – have called for. APNU+AFC stands alone and must act responsibly.”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 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

15

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

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

Rigging cabal persists with campaign of lies

D

avid Granger and his rigging cabal have launched yet another wave of lies to deceive Guyanese.

In this latest attempt the Guyana Chronicle, in an article under the caption ‘Guyana refuses US request to facilitate radio broadcasts to Venezuela’, tried to link these sanctions to Granger’s refusal to grant permission to the U.S to

relay the Voice of America (VOA) radio broadcasts to Venezuela. This is a blatant lie.

The world knows that these sanctions were long in the making and the reasons for their imposition. These sanctions were imposed because of the rigging cabal’s trampling upon the rule of law, their flagrant violations of the Constitu-

tion of Guyana, and their repeated attempts to corrupt the results of the March 2nd General and Regional Elections, by various fraudulent endeavours, all designed to defeat the will of the people. This much was made clear by both Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and the United States Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch.

The entire world has condemned their fraud and called for the use of the figures generated from the CARICOM supervised recount process, this includes the UK, Canada, EU, OAS, CARICOM and the Commonwealth; did they request to relay radio broadcasts?

Mr. Granger needs to be reminded that the trouble

his government is encountering is directly linked to their efforts to subvert the will of the Guyanese electorate who have clearly spoken on March 2 by electing the PPP/C as the new government.

Further, the Rigging Cabal is now brazenly attempting to ensnare the judiciary in their fraudulent network to steal the next Govern-

ment. Their approach to the Court is simply for the Court to order GECOM to use the fraudulent report of disgraced Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield which includes more than fifteen thousand (15000) votes that were not even cast on March 2nd. The law will never countenance such fraud and dishonesty.

(July 18, 2020)

Well-reasoned judgement from Chief Justice makes the path forward clear T

he Chief Justice of Guyana, Roxane George, S.C., in scathing 28-page, well-reasoned judgment, dismissed the claim brought by APNU’s polling agent Misenga Jones, and in so doing ruled that “unless overturned by a Court in an election petition, the only data that could be used for the declaration of the results of the elections would have to be the recount results or data.”

As result of a fraudulent declaration of votes by Region 4 returning officer, Clairmont Mingo, and after intervention by Caricom, GECOM directed the recount to be done pursuant to Order 60 of 2020 (the “Recount Order”) in accordance with Section 22 of the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act, No. 15 of 2000. The recount results, consistent with the results contained in the PPP/C’s statements of poll generated on elections night, March 2, 2020, contrary to APNU/ AFC’s fictitious claims, again confirmed that the PPP/C won the national and regional elections by more than 15,000 votes.

On June 16, 2020 and again on July 9, 2020, the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, S.C., directed the Chief Election Officer (the “CEO”) to

prepare a Section 96 Report based on the recount results generated from national recount of votes, in order to declare a PPP/C victory.

Instead of following those instructions, the CEO, in a fourth blatant attempt to subvert the will of the electorate, reverted to the fraudulent results previously declared by Mingo, and presented to the Commission a report which not only falsely showed an APNU/AFC victory, but inflated the number of votes cast at the regional and general elections by more than 14,000.

When the CEO was again redirected on July 13, 2020 by the Commission to prepare a Section 96 report using the results of the recount, Jones filed a claim against the Guyana Elections Commission and the Chief Election Officer, in essence seeking to invalidate the Recount Order, declare that the CEO must use Mingo’s fraudulent results, and to declare that GECOM could not refuse to act on the CEO’s report nor could he be directed to utilize the recount results for the purposes of a final declaration of the elections result.

The Chief Justice dismissed Jones’ claim in its entirety. In so doing, the Chief Justice upheld the validity of the Recount Order and

went further to affirmatively state that Mingo’s fraudulent declarations (and all of the RO’s previous declarations for that matter), could not “be resurrected” in light of the recount. The Chief Justice found that it could not determine the constitutionality of Section 22 of the Election Law Amendment Act since that claim had already been dismissed by the Chief Justice of Appeal in Moore v GECOM, a case filed by an APNU party agent, and that therefore that issue was therefore res judicata. The Chief Justice reminded the parties that in Moore, the Chief Justice of Appeal found that any challenge to Section 22 must be by an Elections Petition, and accordingly, the Court was now bound by that decision.

Viscerally disagreeing with Jones’ flawed interpretation of the CCJ’s judgment that the Recount Order was in tension with Article 177(2) (b) of the Constitution and Section 96 of ROPA, the Chief Justice ruled that the CCJ judgment lent “to the ineluctable conclusion that the recount votes are ex facie valid. Hence the view expressed that any irregularities would have to be addressed via an election petition.”

Hence, the Chief Justice found that Jones’ and the At-

torney General’s contention that valid votes could only mean the valid votes ascertained by Mingo’s fraudulent declaration, had “no merit”, since this issue had already been determined by the CCJ, and was also res judicata.

In dealing with the issue of the CCJ’s determination of the legality of the Recount Order, the Chief Justice noted that the CCJ had already relied upon the Recount Order in issuing its decision in David, and that Chief Justice of Appeal in Moore's case had already in principal determined the Recount Order was legal. The Chief Justice went on to state that any matter concerning the legality of the Recount Order is for an Elections Petition.

The Chief Justice also found that the Chief Election Officer did not have a constitutional mandate under Article 177(2)(b) of the Constitution as Jones had contended, but instead found “[I]n this context, the S 84 (1) declarations can no longer be considered useful.” In striking down Jones’ and the Attorney General’s argument, the Chief Justice stated that while the CEO may be expected to act independently, he cannot be a "lone ranger" agreeing with the submission that Article 177(2)(b) “can be construed to mean that

GECOM is not to act on the advice of any person or body external to the Commission.”

The Chief Justice found that the CEO did not have a constitutional mandate but rather it was the Chair and the Commission who have a constitutional mandate, not the CEO, and that the CEO, pursuant to Section 18 of the Elections Laws Amendment Act, was lawfully subject to the direction and control of the Commission.

Importantly, in concluding her judgment, the Chief Justice stated that “the ten declarations cannot be resurrected at this point in time.

In this regard, there can no longer be an impasse between the Chairperson and the CEO as to the effect of art 177 (2) (b) and s 96. For the avoidance of doubt as stated in s 18, the CEO is subject to the direction and control of the Commission. In this regard, I refer to para [ 14] of the CCJ judgment where it is noted that by s 18 the CEO is "mandated to be subject to the direction and control of the Commission.".

Finally, the Chief Justice also went to state that the entire matter was res judicata, since almost identical issues were already decided in the Moore and David matters, and that since the CEO was also a party in those cases,

he so was bound by those decisions. The Chief Justice lamented that the reliefs sought have been previously litigated and previously decided stating “[t]here must be finality to judicial decisions.

Myriad persons cannot be permitted to engage the court with multiple applications regarding the same issue which has been decided, and shield behind the claim that they were not a party to the previous proceedings. To so permit would be to waste precious judicial time and resources. In short orderthis cannot be allowed.” The Chief Justice found that the issues litigated had already “been decided by superior courts” and signaled her intent to penalize Jones in costs.

Despite the Court’s unequivocal ruling, APNU/ AFC has signaled their intent to continue to abuse the Court’s process by filing appeal. However, we are confident that no attempt by APNU/AFC to thwart the will of the electorate will succeed.

We the PPP/C, together with members of civil society, all of the contesting parties and the international community will continue our united stand to do all we can to protect Guyana’s democracy. (July 20, 2020)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Op-Ed: Top US politicians from both parties on same page regarding Guyana situation

By José Cárdenas

T

hat the United States government announced this week that it has begun imposing sanctions on Guyanese citizens engaging in anti-democratic behavior should not have come as a surprise to anyone.

Indeed, top U.S. officials signaled as early as last March that such behavior would have international consequences.

What is regrettable is the failure to heed those warnings, especially by a U.S.-based commentator who repeatedly but wrongly assured Guyanese audiences that the U.S. government had neither the authority nor the will to hold Guyanese officials accountable for their efforts to impede a final reckoning of the March 2 national election.

One wonders what comfort those erroneous assurances gave to those actors who are out to thwart the will of the Guyanese people.

Now that the U.S. has demonstrated the will and capacity to act to defend Guyanese democracy, those very same individuals would

do well to understand that this week’s action is merely the tip of the iceberg as far as the authorities the U.S. government possesses to respond when democracy is threatened.

It is important to understand that the sanctions announced this week — the revocation of U.S. visas; that is, the ability to travel to the U.S. — were actions taken by the State Department under its own authorities.

Under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, the Department can bar any foreign citizen (and their immediate family members) at any time for any reason from entering the U.S. They do not have to explain the reasons to anyone.

Because of privacy laws, however, the U.S. cannot disclose the names of individuals sanctioned, but the newly sanctioned will certainly know if they try to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure. They will be unceremoniously turned away.

Other U.S. legislation gives other Departments and agencies of the U.S.

government broader sanction authorities.

For example, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act gives the U.S. Treasury Department broad powers to impose financial sanctions on persons determined, among other things, to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, certain human rights abuses or corrupt acts anywhere in the world.

Those are open to wide interpretation — on purpose.

For example, in 2018, the U.S. sanctioned (“designated”) the President of Nicaragua’s Supreme Electoral Council, Roberto Rivas Reyes, and his wife, for involvement in significant corruption and for perpetuating electoral fraud that undermined Nicaragua’s electoral institutions.

Such a “designation” by the U.S. Treasury means any and all economic assets the individual possesses in the U.S. are frozen — i.e., made inaccessible to the owner — and that individual is prohibited from any transaction that involves any contact with the U.S. banking system.

Essentially, it means the individual becomes an economic “non-person”, since even domestic banks and other institutions will shun the individual for fear of running afoul of U.S. sanctions, because of their connectivity to the U.S. And these are just individual sanctions.

As has been demonstrated next door in Venezuela, the U.S. has wide-ranging authorities to respond to anti-democratic behavior by targeting whole sectors of any economy — for example, Venezuela’s oil sector.

One hopes Guyana never reaches that stage.

Now, given the electoral calendar in the U.S., some might want to believe that time is running out for the Trump administration, and that should Joe Biden win the election, sanctions will fade away with the passage of administrations.

But that would be foolhardy.

It is obvious to anyone paying attention is that there is no partisan divide in Washington on the need for a transparent, democratic resolution in Guyana. The

many statements from the U.S. Congress backing CARICOM, the Organization of American States, and other international stakeholders have been clear.

In the U.S. Senate, we have seen the highest-ranking Democrat and Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as the leading Democrat and Republican on the Western Hemisphere subcommittee, weigh in.

In the House of Representatives, the Democratic Chairman and Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, as well as several members of the Congressional Black Caucus, all Democrats, have joined their Republican colleagues in supporting the calls for a declaration of results that favors the winner of the largest number of votes.

At a time of heightened partisanship in domestic U.S. politics, readers should note that there is no division regarding Guyana’s current impasse. To believe a change in presidential administrations will somehow entail a reversal of U.S. concern

for democracy in Guyana is destructive wishful thinking.

There is still time to conclude Guyana’s recent electoral cycle without more collateral damage to the country. International friends of Guyanese democracy want to see the impasse resolved expeditiously and peacefully.

However, those who have differing agendas must realize there are ever-more-serious consequences for their actions.

(José Cárdenas is a former US official, who has held senior positions in both the US Congress and Executive Branch, focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean. He is a government relations consultant in Washington.)

UK starts process of putting Undemocratic actions could endanger ‘consequences’ into place US/Guyana partnerships in critical areas T W ith a step already taken to impose personal sanctions against members of the APNU+AFC Coalition, and others engaged in actions to subvert the will of the Guyanese people, the

United States of America’s (USA) partnerships may be at risk, if the current state of affairs persists.

The warning came from US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, during a

Democratic solution for post-electoral crisis exists – EU spokesperson

T

he European Union’s (EU) spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Nabila Massrali, has stressed that there is a foundation for a democratic solution to Guyana’s post-electoral crisis in the pronouncements of the courts and this should be acted on.

In a statement on Wednesday (July 22, 2020), Massrali said, “Following the elections in Guyana on 2 March 2020, the clear ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice now provides a solid foundation for a peaceful and democratic solution to Guyana's post-electoral crisis.

“It is now up to the Guy-

ana Elections Commission to rapidly issue a declaration based on the credible results of the recount certified by the Caribbean Community, ensuring respect for the will of the people of Guyana, in line with the ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

“We expect all Guyanese leaders and stakeholders to support such a declaration to conclude this long overdue democratic process. Only then can a legitimate Government be sworn in.”

The democratic transition of government is “urgent and essential” for the country, according to the EU spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

virtual news conference on Thursday (July 16, 2020).

She explained that with Guyana and the US partnering in the areas of security, governance and prosperity, the diplomat stressed that if the country continues to subvert democracy and the rule of law, then it will pose implicit dangers to the hemisphere.

Lynch said, “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 it continues down this path. “…we look further to working with Guyana in the future [as] a secure, stable, prosperous country, as well as region. So, there are implicit dangers in all of those areas that we would like to avoid…this country has a very bright future and we look very much to partnering with a democratically-elected government in Guyana, “…as you know we have been providing assistance here for years and have great

cooperation with Guyana on many common objectives we have in the hemisphere. Our objective is to make sure that democratic principles are adhered to as well as the rule of law. “…we continue to hope that the will of Guyanese people will be respected and will prevail. This country has a very bright future and we look forward to partnering with a democratically elected Government in Guyana.”

The US Ambassador to Guyana added that further actions, relative to the US response to the Guyana situation, will be determined on the highest level of the US government.

To date, several senior officials of the US State Department, as well as from the House of Representatives and the Senate have spoken out against efforts to take Guyana down a regressive and undemocratic path, by subverting the will of the Guyanese people as reflected in the results of the national recount.

he United Kingdom (UK) has warned that there will be consequences, if attempts intended to thwart the democratic process persist.

Making good on the warning, UK’s Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, on Friday (July 17, 2020), said, “It has been over 4 months since elections in Guyana - no electorate should have to wait that long for a result. The UK is disappointed by the ongoing attempts to frustrate the will of the people. The Caribbean Community scrutinised recount cleared the way to declare a legitimate result.

That should now happen.

“Any government sworn in on the basis of non-credible results will face strong international condemnation and consequences – we have started the process of putting those consequences in place.

The UK pays tribute to the patience displayed by the people of Guyana during this challenging time.”

On March 24, 2020, Raab had warned of sanctions and international condemnation.

He had 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.”

Further, British High Commissioner to Guyana, 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.”

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

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Day 140…

High Court rules recount results valid basis for election declaration

A

nother landmark court ruling was handed down and paved, yet again, a clear path to the finalization of the March 2, 2020 General Regional Elections.

In the latest election related court matter, the ruling came from acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire in the High Court, on Monday (July 20, 2020). The ruling came in response to the 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. Jones’ 46-page court document that was filed called for over 20 declarations from the High Court. The declarations, among others, which were being sought included 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 (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, 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.

George-Wiltshire noted that the court action raised five questions: 1. Whether the High Court has jurisdiction to hear the application; 2. Whether Section 22 of the Elections Laws Act (ELA), pursuant to which GECOM issued Order 60, is unconstitutional; 3. Whether Order 60, and by extension the recount result obtained, are valid to permit a final declaration of election results; 4. Whether the declarations of the Returning Officers from the 10 Electoral Distracts – which formed the basis of the CEO’s July 11, 2020 report – should be acted on or should be set aside; and 5. Whether all these issues are res judicata (a matter that has been adjudicated by a competent court and therefore may not be pursued further by the same parties).

In her 28-page ruling, the acting Chief Justice’s ruling addressed the contentions were raised by Jones.

JURISDICTION George-Wiltshire ruled that the High Court had juris-

diction.

“I am of the view that the applicant is really seeking the interpretation of the Constitution for a determination whether the Chairperson, GECOM and the CEO are acting lawfully. It is in this context that there can be judicial review of their decisions… on a narrow basis, it is an enquiry into the legal framework that guides the carrying out of their functions to complete the elections process. If the legal framework is found to be unconstitutional and therefore void, then their functions and actions would perforce be affected,” she said in her judgment at paragraphs 24 and 25.

CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ORDER 60 The acting Chief Justice ruled that the Recount Order, Order 60, was constitutional and did not create a new electoral regime.

She noted that the July 8, 2020 ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice did not negate or nullify Order 60, either explicitly or implicitly. As such, the High Court cannot rule that Order 60 is invalid.

Referring to the Court of Appeal decision in the case filed by Ulita Moore, who had challenged the legality of the national recount, George-Wiltshire, at paragraph 37 of her judgment, said, “The issue having been raised and importantly dealt with by the Court, it cannot be canvassed again.

And even more importantly, since it is a decision of an appellate court, sitting as I am in the High Court, I am bound to follow this decision. I can discern no distinguishing feature that would permit me to depart from this judgment; nor has any evidence been disclosed on the affidavits by and/or on behalf of the applicant such as to permit me to do so.”

At paragraphs 54 and 60 in her judgment, she said, “The CCJ re-emphasized that Order 60 did not and could not create a new election regime... the Court did not, in explaining how any tension between the Constitution and subsidiary legislation should be treated, negate or nullify Order 60 either expressly or impliedly… this court, therefore, cannot rule that Order 60 is invalidated.”

VALIDITY OF RECOUNT RESULTS Given this fact, George-Wiltshire made clear that the results of the national recount are valid to be used for

a final declaration of election results.

According to her, unless overturned by another court, the only data that can be used for election declarations is that of the national recount results.

At paragraph 76 of the judgment, she said, “As determined by the CCJ, unless overturned by a Court in an election petition, the only data that could be used for the declaration of the results of the elections would have to be the recount results or data.”

TREATMENT OF RO’S DECLARATIONS Relative to the declarations made by the Returning Officers (ROs) in the 10 Electoral Districts, the acting Chief Justice charged that these have been “overtaken” by events and “cannot be resurrected” to be used for a final declaration of election results.

At paragraph 72, she said, “The fact remains that the circumstances surrounding the declaration of results of the March 2, 2020 elections are contextual…in this context, the Section 84 (1) declarations can no longer be considered useful.”

She added, at paragraph 77, that, “The ten declarations cannot be resurrected at this point in time. In this regard, there can no longer be an impasse between the Chairperson and the CEO.” LOWENFIELD NO LONE RANGER The acting Chief Justice also stressed that Lowenfield, as the Chief Elections Officer, is no “lone ranger” and is subject to the instructions and direction of the GECOM Chair and the Commission.

She added that Lowenfield is a statutory officer, not a constitutional officer.

Further, according to her, it is the GECOM Chair and the Commission that have a constitutional mandate.

George-Wiltshire, at paragraphs 72 and 73 of the judgement, said, “While the CEO may be expected to act independently, he cannot be a “lone ranger” so to speak…

The CEO is a functionary of GECOM pursuant to Article 161(A) and section 2 and 7 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA)…the obvious, for the avoidance of doubt—that the CEO cannot act on his own.”

At paragraph 77, she added, “The CEO is subject to the direction and control of the Commission.”

ISSUES OF RES JUDICATA In determining whether all these issues are res judicata (a matter that has been adjudicated by a competent court and therefore may not be pursued further by the same parties), the acting Chief Justice, at paragraph 85 of the judgment, said, “The reliefs sought are all based on issues that have been litigated previously and determined by Courts that take precedence over this High Court. Apart from res judicata, under the common law system, applying the principle of stare decisis, I am bound to follow the decisions of the CA and ultimately the apex court, the CCJ.” Importantly, at paragraph 83 of the judgment, George-Wiltshire, said, “Where there is public interest litigation such as this application, baring a new issue arising, or one that can be distinguished, or a claim that the judgment was improperly obtained e.g. through a misrepresentation of facts or law, or the perpetration of a fraud

on the court, an applicant is bound by any decision on an issue that has been raised and adjudicated on previously.

“There must be finality to judicial decisions. Myriad persons cannot be permitted to engage the court with multiple applications regarding the same issue which has been decided, and shield behind the claim that they were not a party to the previous proceedings. To so permit would be to waste precious judicial time and resources. In short order – this cannot be allowed.”

Further, George-Wiltshire stated that she has been “lenient” in dealing with the issue of costs in the election related cases, but hinted that she is unlikely to do so in this case. As such, lawyers were invited to make submissions on what costs should be awarded for her to make a determination. She said, “I have been lenient in the award of costs in what I call the national interest matters since I have considered them important for the development of our jurisprudence, more especially our constitutional

jurisprudence. However, on this occasion, having found that the issues that have led to a determination of this case have been decided by superior courts, the issue of costs has to be addressed differently.”

APPEAL All considered, the Chief Justice dismissed Jones’ case and explained that she stands guided by the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the CCJ, which had both dealt with the issues raised by the applicant.

“The application is accordingly dismissed,” she declared.

However, minutes after, APNU+AFC Coalition candidate and one of Jones’ lawyers, Roysdale Forde, indicated that an appeal will be filed with Appeal Court no later than end of Tuesday, July 21, 2020.

The Coalition’s Basil Williams claimed that the matter ought to be allowed to be “fully ventilated” – even to the point of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The appeal was filed with the Appeal Court just after 15:00hours (3:00PM).

Coalition must act responsibly, stop blocking final declaration of election results – Ali T he de facto APNU+AFC Coalition has been called on by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali, to cease actions that introduce stumbling blocks in the way of a declaration of results from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, more so after a protracted delay of 140 days.

In comments on Monday (July 20, 2020), after the High Court ruling in yet another election related court case filed by Coalition-aligned personalities, he said, “We welcome the ruling and we’re saddened that although the ruling was clear and pointed to the many examples where issues that were raised in this case were already dealt with at the Court of Appeal, that associates of APNU+AFC are continuing their delay tactics and denying our country the stability we so badly require, as we seek to tackle the issue of COVID-19, the serious economic circumstances we

are facing and the financial difficulties at the central level and Private Sector. “…as they continue to delay the declaration, find ways in delaying the declaration that affects the democratic will of the people, that those sanctions are going to get stronger and stronger. All aspect of life here in Guyana will be affected. “…we have called on the Government to act selfless, act in the interest of citizens.

In 2015, after elections, we in the PPP sought to be a disciplined opposition; an opposition that would continue to represent the rights of citizens; an opposition committed to the task of nation-building…it is for that reason we remain viable, relevant and consistently in contact with the Guyanese people….we cannot overstate the call for this Government to act in a responsible manner – to act with decency and integrity.”

Ali stressed that the will of the Guyanese people must be allowed to prevail. “We

have called on the government to not act selfishly, but act in the national interest…. we cannot continue to have a country that is divided.

We cannot continue to have people occupying political space and leadership who are so selfish in their actions that they would rather the entire country suffer for their own selfish reason. That is not what leaders do,” the PPP/C presidential candidate said.

He lamented also the damage being done to Guyana’s image internationally, as well as the country’s credibility as an investment destination for foreign investors.

All considered, Ali reiterated his earlier calls for calm and patience. “We draw closer and closer to a position in which this government will recognize that they have no other option, but to respect the will of the people….no other choice, but to allow democracy to work.

Democracy must triumph in the end…Ii assure you that democracy will triumph,” he charged.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Coalition must ‘bring curtains down Delays with final declaration must end – PSC on three-ringed circus’ – FITUG T T he Private Sector Commission (PSC) stressed that it welcomed the comprehensive and detailed decision and rulings of the Chief Justice (ag), particularly on the matter of the validity of the Recount and, most importantly, on the relationship between the Chief Election Officer and GECOM. And stressed that the delays in a final declaration of results from the March 2020 Elections must end.

In a statement on Tuesday (July 21, 2020) the PSC said, “The Private Sector Commission notes that the Chief Justice (ag) has specifically ruled that GECOM must declare the result of the elections only from the data of the Recount and that ‘the view expressed that any

irregularities would have to be addressed by an election petition’.

“The Private Sector Commission has also noted that the Chief Justice (ag) has ruled that the Chief Election Officer is subject to the direction and control of the Commission in submitting his report to GECOM. “The Private Sector Commission, therefore, wishes to encourage the Chairman of GECOM to sanction no further delay in arriving at the declaration of the elections result from the Recount and to move with all due haste to the swearing in of the newly elected President of Guyana.”

All considered, the PSC also rejected – “without reservation” – the position of the Guyana Public Service

Union (GPSU) Observer Team, which claimed that ‘the result of the March 2nd 2020 General and Regional Elections could not be credible’. The Commission said, “The Private Sector Commission finds it extraordinary and is extremely disappointed that the GPSU, presuming to speak for all Public Servants, would arrive at any decision other than to recognize, as every other Local and International Observer Mission has done, that the March 2nd elections were, in fact, conducted in a wholly credible manner and that alleged, undocumented and unproved irregularities listed in the Observer Reports of the Recount, as the Chief Justice (ag) has ruled, are matters for an Election Petition.”

Op-Ed: Granger and his gang of brigands continue...

(From page 8)

the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, to the Permanent Council, the joint statement of the CARICOM representatives at the OAS, the serious presentations and stern warnings by the Ambassadors to the OAS from the Antigua, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and the USA, the arrogant retort of Williams that “… all of this is premature( ie OAS)…the APNU+AFC Coalition had won the elections and have the majority of votes…. there could be no peaceful transition as there had been no declaration” made a mockery of the OAS and the Charter it stands for.

That the Granger-led de facto government believes that the OAS is of no consequence is the same contempt that it holds of the CARICOM, Commonwealth and European Union. All have been targeted and accused of interference and told to stay out of Guyana’s business.

As we say in Guyana “if you hard ears you will feel”, the problem is all of our people, innocent of this travesty, will feel.

In fact so dangerous is this situation that at the very same time as the Secretary General Almargo was saying that “..the current situation serves no purpose in Guyana. We call to stop using the judiciary branch to avoid bringing a solution to the country. It's is time to make decisions and protect democracy and the will of the people expressed in the elections”, the rigging Mafioso had proceeded to file an appeal to all of the Chief Justice rulings of the day before. This too is an affront and yet another indication to Guyanese and to the world that this gang of brigands will not concede defeat and will not accept the results.

I, like so many Guyanese, was ashamed and shocked as this travesty was displayed on the international stage,

embarrassed to see our nation’s international reputation in tatters.

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Golding made it clear that the people of Guyana are not to be blamed for the current electoral crisis in Guyana. In fact, he commended the people of Guyana for their patience over the past four months. I console myself with Golding’s closing remarks that “the people of Guyana do not deserve this,” but also brace myself for the future as he said “it will take years for Guyana to recover from what has transpired.”

The only ones responsible for this is Granger and his gang of brigands who have brought our nation so low and who are continuing aggressively in undermining the very democratic foundations of our nation with their desperate and despotic grasping of the reigns of government.

But this too will end that I know.

he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has made clear that the time has long gone for the APNU+AFC Coalition to “bring the curtains down on its threeringed circus” and spare the Guyanese people and nation further shame and greater anguish.

In a statement on Tuesday (July 21, 2020), FITUG said, “The applicant who sought, in our view, some most perplexing and we daresay ambitious declarations has essentially been ruled out of line by the Chief Justice and her application fell flat on its face. This latest litigation has only contributed to the inordinate delay in the finalization of the elections results which remain undeclared now going on to five (5) months.

“While we recognize Ms Jones’ attorneys have indicated their intention to appeal the Chief Justice’s

erudite decision, we have to ask to what end this is being pursued. Though we uphold a litigant’s right to an appeal, we contend that this must be measured and carefully considered in the interest of justice and specifically in this matter the democratic election process which it stalemates. It appears to us that the continuation of the matter has a hopeless probability of success. We say this taking into account previous decisions which were upheld and adumbrated by Justice George in her decision. It, therefore, would be an unwelcome surprise for other Courts to walk back previous decisions especially in the absence of any credible or worthwhile submission.

“The Granger Government, which has sought to distance itself from this and previous matters, has also signaled its intention to file an appeal. By their actions, the Government has smashed

the scanty veneer of separation which may have existed in the eyes of a few.

The utterances of the Attorney-General, at the conclusion of the Chief Justice’s decision, for us is ominous and, for us, has brought shame to the professionalism of the legal profession. We contend that attorneys worth their salt will not pursue matters which they are cognizant that they have not even the slimmest possibility of success. That to us can be seen as professional suicide and brings into question the ethical training which those attorneys would receive.”

The Union noted that the selfish political considerations that have driven the Coalition – aimed at holding on to executive power – continues to do more harm than good. “This too has cast shame on politicians past and present as the Coalition pursues, embarrassingly, its charade,” FITUG said.

GCCI to Granger: ‘Time to concede’

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he continued approaches to the court are not in the nation’s best interests, according to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

And the body called on the APNU+AFC Coalition leader, David Granger, to take steps to allow a final declaration of election results and the democratic transition of government.

In a missive to Granger, the GCCI said, “It has been 141 days since our March 2, 2020 Election. The Guyanese people are tired and would like our Election process to come to an end.

Excellency, we believe you have the power, as Ms Jones was an APNU+AFC Party Agent, and as her lawyers are APNU Party Agents to ask Ms. Jones to withdraw her Appeal.

“You also have the power to ask the Attorney General to not support any appeal from the Government’s side either. Excellency, I can guarantee there is very little chance of success in the Appeals’ Court because according to the Chief Justice’s decision, Ms. Jones would be asking the Court of Appeal to overturn their own statements and points raised in the Ulita

The GCCI letter to Coalition leader, David Granger

Moore ruling.

“Worse yet Excellency, even if by some miracle Ms. Jones succeeded at the Court of Appeal, the absurdity of her lawyers arguing to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Judges that those same judges said that the Recount Order, Order 60, was illegal will shame us for the rest of our lives in Caribbean jurisprudence.”

The GCCI stressed that

Granger must act. “There are two moves that saves face for all Excellency, the first is for you to call Dr. Irfaan Ali and concede that indeed the PPP list, which he heads, has won the Election, and the second is to ask your party’s candidate Ms. Jones to not file an Appeal on the CJ’s decision,” the letter said.

The GCCI missive was signed by GCCI President, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

APNU+AFC Coalition’s Stop using judiciary to Polling Agent moves to avoid solution to electoral impasse –Almagro Appeal Court A

dvancing action to protract the legal proceeding in the latest election related court case, a High Court ruling is being appealed by lawyers representing APNU+AFC Coalition’s polling agent, Misenga Jones.

The appeal was filed on Tuesday (July 21, 2020) afternoon, less than 24 hours after a High Court ruling that dismissed Jones’ case.

Jones in the application filed by her Attorney, Mayo Robertson, is challenging the entirety of the judgment handed down by the acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire, on 23 grounds.

The Coalition’s polling agent is seeking a ruling from the Appeal Court that the acting Chief Justice erred in law in handing down her ruling and are seeking a decision from the Appeal Court to set aside the entire judgment.

During a case management conference on Wednesday (July 22, 2020), it was ordered that all submissions, including those related to cross appeals, must be submitted by the end of Friday (July 24, 2020). The hearing is fixed for Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 10:00hours.

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive and former Attorney

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General, Anil Nandlall, said, “An appeal has no likelihood of success. Would be just another shameless attempt to hold on to Government.”

[SEE PAGE 17 FOR REPORTING ON HIGH COURT RULING IN THIS CASE]

he Secretary General (SG) of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, has called for local political actors to “stop using the judiciary” to “avoid brining a solution” to the country’s electoral impasses.

In a brief message on social media on Tuesday (July 21, 2020), he said, “The current situation serves no purpose in Guyana. We call to stop using the judiciary branch to avoid bringing a solution to the country. It's is time to make decisions and protect democracy and the will of the people expressed in the elections.”

The OAS, prior to the Secretary General’s

comment, addressed state of the electoral process in Guyana during a virtual meeting of its Permanent Council.

Wreaths laid in remembrance Brazil’s State of Roraima warns about instability due to of Ballot Box Martyrs protracted electoral process M embers of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), including Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, laid wreaths at the gravesite of the Ballot Box Martyrs – Jagan Ramessar and Bholanauth Parmanand – 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, Bhola-

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nother country has come out in support of using the results from the national recount as the basis for a democratic transition of government.

Brazil’s State of Roraima noted its concern about the prolonged delay in finalizing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

In an Official Note on Thursday (July 16, 2020), it said, “The State Government of Roraima has been attentively following the presidential general election that happened in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and externs, publicly, its concern about the development of said election, especially in regards to the lengthy period in which the democratically elected candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali, remains undeclared.

“The instability caused by actions that delay the announcement of the new president harms democracy itself and disrespects the will of the people.

“The State Government of Roraima sides with the Caribbean Court of Justice, the OAS, the European Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Canada in asking that the final result of the election is promptly announced and the will of the Guyanese people respected.”

Last week, the Brazilian government expressed similar sentiments and 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…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.”

The APNU+AFC Coalition is coming under increasing regional and international pressure to allow a democratic transition of government.

nauth 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.

The 1973 incident was of the many struggles to restore democracy to Guyana.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Attempts made to torch Suriname Embassy in Georgetown Coalition brings I further embarrassment to all Guyana nvestigations are ongoing by the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into an attempt to torch the Suriname Embassy, located at Anaira and New Garden Streets, Georgetown.

Reports are that molotov cocktails was hurdled at the building sometime early

Wednesday (July 22, 2020) morning. A security guard, who was on duty at the time of the incident, reported seeing two ‘fireball objects’ tossed in the direction of the embassy, which fell short of the building.

The Guyana Police Force has not issued a statement on the matter.

Dear Editor,

Mazaruni inmate busted with T almost 2,000 grams of ‘weed’

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convicted prisoner was found in possession of 1,472 grams of suspected cannabis in the Mazaruni Prison compound on Tuesday (July 21, 20202) and is being processed for court.

According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), at about 07:45 hours, a prison officer was patrolling the inner perimeter of the penitentiary, when he observed the

suspicious behaviour of the prisoner. The inmate was in possession of a plastic bucket. The convict on seeing the officer made a dash behind the prison's chapel and was immediately pursued and apprehended. A search of the bucket revealed the prohibited substance.

Court proceedings were thereafter initiated.

he FITUG, like many Guyanese, paid close attention to the Organisation of American States (OAS) Permanent Council meeting on July 21, 2020 which addressed the prevailing situation in our country. The convening of such an engagement is yet another telltale sign strong international concern about what is taking place in Guyana. It also demonstrates the seriousness of the situation that is currently unfolding and which can have several consequences for Guyanese.

The OAS, in considering the Guyana situation, received interventions from the de-facto Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Legal Affairs. The contributions of both senior Government officials could only be described, in our view, only served to bring further embarrassment to our people. Both Ministers peddled, in our view, clearly false narratives obviously, in an attempt, to mislead the OAS. This we contend is tantamount to seeking to insult the intelligence of the hemispheric body.

We had to wonder whether the Government team believed sincerely that the OAS is unaware of what is really taking place in Guyana. We consider the OAS and by extension

its members most informed about Guyana’s state-of-affairs. We do not believe for any moment that the OAS to accepted the slanted opinions and cherry-picking of certain aspects of Court pronouncements by the Government.

The fact that the de-facto Administration thinks it can really hoodwink the OAS and by extension the world is most humiliating.

Indeed from the interventions of our hemispheric brothers and sisters, was a vivid demonstration that they were not sidetracked or sucked in by the propaganda of the Coalition regime. They were most forthright in their calls for the APNU+AFC to accept the will of the people and to exit office.

We share the view that prolongation of the process, which is quickly approaching five (5) months, must be brought to swift and peaceful end. There is need for a transition in Government as the economy tethers and the lives of thousands of Guyanese hang in the balance.

The selfish ways of a greedy few should not be allowed to persist but democracy must triumph.

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

Squandermania the common factor in public expenditures under APNU+AFC Coalition Dear Editor,

COVID-19 threatens access to medicine

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he novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has disrupted several key services including, maternal health and childcare services in the past six months.

Experts at the World Health Organisation (WHO) are now focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of life-saving treatment for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), as AIDS response has halted in some countries.

“Progress is stalling because HIV prevention and testing services are not reaching the groups that need them most,” Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated.

Many HIV-related deaths result from infections that take advantage of weak im-

‒ WHO concerned over delaying of AIDS response

mune systems, including viral infections like hepatitis and COVID-19 and fungal infections, including histoplasmosis.

In the Region of the Americas, including South America, WHO says histoplasmosis is highly prevalent and as much 4,500 deaths are reported each year among people living with HIV. Seventy-three countries across the globe have reported risks of stock-outs of antiretroviral (ARV) medicines for HIV treatment in their country. Closure of ports, failure of suppliers to deliver the medication and limited access to health services are among reasons for this fall-out.

“WHO is deeply concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the global response to HIV. A new

WHO survey showed access to HIV medicines has been significantly curtailed as a result of the pandemic,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said.

Disruption of HIV/AIDS services may result in death for some victims, as well as an increase in new cases.

The WHO recommends that countries keep HIV testing, prevention and treatment services running. Also prescribing medicines for longer periods can help to mitigate the problem. Patients can be prescribed their ARVs for up to six months, while chain supplies are fully functioning.

According to figures from UNAIDS, a total of 38 million people is said to be living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, with 1.7 million new infections in 2019 alone.

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eadership is an activity, not a position, and that seems to be the fundamental mistake Mr. David Arthur Granger is making again and again. He operates as if he was placed in a position for life.

However, the only certainty in life is uncertainty, and when you entered the office, your duty was to get down to activities in service to the people, not hide from the work and spend valuable taxpayers’ dollars irresponsibly on more wasteful rentals, more unnecessary painting of building in green, and more executive flights.

As we are talking about spending, let us observe the current expenditure on rental and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure over the 5 years from April 2015 to March 2020, when 58 of those 60 months were under Team Granger.

Over these 5 years, Team Granger literally doubled spending on rental and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure.

The Bank of Guyana Report supports the conclusion that spending on rental and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure moved from G$6.8 billion to G$13.1 billion.

Yet these very same people have inadequate cash to support the Guyanese people with food hampers and safety masks during this time of dire need: the COVID-19 pandemic.

The evidence would reveal that Team Irfaan Ali’s National Taskforce has distributed more than 200,000 face masks across all 10 regions of Guyana.

Meanwhile, Team Granger had money to distribute less than 1/20th of these vitally

needed items, but no shortage of cash for the likes of Larry Singh and the Sussex Street bond rental contract.

While Team Irfaan Ali’s National Taskforce had distributed more than 75,000 food hampers across the country, Team Granger, with the entire Treasury in its corner, had cash to distribute only 1/12 of that output from Team Ali. The struggle out there is real for most vulnerable families, and I cannot understand why Mr. Granger is so indifferent to their plight.

The evidence would illustrate that every weekend Team Ali is in the field, offering its services free of cost as volunteers, as private, non-government citizens doing what the Government is being paid to do.

And yet Mr. Granger and his Team think they have what it takes to manage this nation for the next 5 years if, God forbid, they are allowed to steal the elections. Leadership is about being clear in your purpose around the objective of lifting all boats all the time. In this case, a boat is referred to as the economic welfare of the Guyanese families.

Clearly, the facts would show that Mr. Granger does not have what it takes to mobilise others to do the difficult task of lifting these boats for the common good.

In the final analysis, time is up! It is now time for Team Granger to step aside. It is time to end squandermania like these overpriced rental contracts to their inner circle, which is only contributing to the widening of the economic divide between the Granger cabal and the people.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

21

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

OBSERVER

Sovereignty belongs to the Guyanese people

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ince the close of polls on March 2, 2020, the Guyanese people have all been witness to the numerous attempts by the APNU+AFC Coalition to rig the elections to ensure an outcome in their favour – efforts that have, fortunately, been uncovered, exposed and blocked by the opposition parties here in Guyana, and with the support of the regional and international communities.

Representatives of the regional and international communities – from CARICOM, the OAS, the Commonwealth, the Carter Center, the European Union, the United Nations (UN), the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom – have held a unified position in condemning the actions of the APNU+AFC Coalition and calling for a democratic transition of government.

MANIPULATION OF TABULATION AND RECOUNT The condemnation came first from the international Election Observer Missions, which witnessed the entire election process, including the campaign period, the Election Day activities and then the tabulation and declaration of the results. They have all collectively stated that all the processes were free, fair and credible, but for the tabulation of results for Region 4 and the declaration by the Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

After the debacle relating to Mingo’s fraudulent declaration, it was CARICOM that brokered an agreement to have a national recount.

This recount was done and revealed the PPP/C as the winner of the elections. The results of the recount was endorsed by all the observer missions, both local and international, and was deemed to be a credible basis for the final declaration of results from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Most importantly, the CARICOM observation team, which David Granger deemed the most “legitimate interlocutor” in the process, in their report said, “The

Team did not witness anything which would render de recount, and by extension, the casting of the ballot on March 02, so grievously deficient procedurally or technically. “…the Team viewed much of the exercise as a fishing expedition designed to gather data for a possible election petition and which resulted in considerable time being wasted during the recount. Furthermore, the net was cast extremely wide in the hope of at least making a small catch and at times the anticipated harvest ended in slim pickings. “…the Team did not view the objections raised by the APNU/AFC as materially relevant to the recount of the ballots…we simply have no evidence as to who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the alleged “ghost voting” and voter impersonation. “…nothing that we witnessed warrants a challenge to the inescapable conclusion that the recount results are acceptable and should constitute the basis of the declaration of the results of the March 02, 2020 elections.

Any aggrieved political party has been afforded the right to seek redress before the courts in the form of an election petition.

“We are, however, of the unshakable belief that the people of Guyana expressed their will at the ballot box, and as a result, the three person CARICOM Observer Team concludes that the recount results are completely acceptable.”

Despite all this the APNU+AFC Coalition, through yet another one of its acolytes, approached the Court to prevent the recount figures from being used. Guyana’s apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), summarily dismissed their case, and reiterated that the recount results be used.

The approaches to the court continue, despite the clear facts of the day.

RESPONSE TO CONDEMNATION As was done with the manipulation of the tabulation of votes in Region, the

regional and international communities have been vocal in their condemnation of the current state of affairs.

The US government have even gone a step further and imposed visa restrictions on all APNU+AFC Coalition officials and persons deemed to be playing a role in defying the will of the Guyana electorate. The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, last week, advised that the restrictions could be applied to immediate family members and others.

Further, both Canada and the United Kingdom have also indicated that they will follow suit with possible sanctions against those individuals who would seek to deny the Guyanese people their democratic rights.

Additionally, as recent as Tuesday (July 21, 2020) the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, of which Guyana is a member, met, and they were all unanimous in their condemnation of the Coalition government, and all urged that they move swiftly to have a declaration be made using the results of the national recount.

In the face of all this international condemnation, the ongoing mantra of the APNU+AFC Coalition has been to claim sovereignty.

They claim that Guyana is a sovereign nation and that no foreign power can dictate to them what action to take.

It is worth nothing that while sovereignty does afford a country certain basic rights for self-governance, there are also certain international principles that most be adhered to.

Guyana is a member of not only the OAS, but CARICOM and the United Nations, among other organisation – all of which give importance to the preservation of democracy.

The Charter of the Organization of American States, of which Guyana is a signatory to, states that: “The member states agree to join together in seeking a solution to urgent or critical problems that may arise whenever the economic development

or stability of any Member State is seriously affected by conditions that cannot be remedied through the efforts of that state.” The Charter adds that member states stand “…convinced that representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the stability, peace and development of the region.”

The Charter further states that: “Confident that the true significance of American solidarity and good neighborliness can only mean that the consolidation on this continent, within the framework of democratic institutions, of a system of individual liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential rights of man.”

The CARICOM Charter of Civil Society, in Article VI, states that: “The States shall ensure the existence of a fair and open democratic system through the holding of free elections at reasonable intervals, by secret ballot, underpinned by an electoral system in which all can have confidence and which will ensure the free expression of the will of the people in the choice of their representatives.”

In this context, the regional and international groups calling for a declaration based on the results of the national recount are in no way infringing on the sovereignty of Guyana, but are only seeking compliance to the principles Guyana has committed to as member states.

Peddling misconceived arguments about threats to sovereignty will not change the facts.

Furthermore, defying the regional and international communities and ignoring Guyana’s responsibility to uphold the principles it signed on to as member states of various organisations will only lead to our country being ostracized and isolated. We cannot survive as a nation if that happens.

SOVEREIGNTY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE All considered, it is the APNU+AFCC Coalition,

which is the offending party when it comes to our sovereignty.

Why? Simply because, sovereignty belongs to the Guyanese people.

Guyana’s constitution states that: “Sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established under this Constitution.”

The electoral process is one of the democratic organs established by the Constitution. It is exactly this process that the APNU+AFC Coalition is seeking to corrupt and, in so doing, they would deny all Guyanese their sovereignty. They Coalition’s cries about sovereignty against the international community ring hollow as they are denying those same rights of their citizens.

It is a fact that a few members of the David Granger-led cabal are seeking to impose their will upon the entire electorate in defiance of every national, regional and internationally democratic principle.

It should come as no surprise, however, that Guyanese are subject to the APNU+AFC Coalition’s rantings about sovereignty at this time. The Coalition has taken a page directly out of the playbook of despots and dictators, who try to portray themselves as champions of the people against the world. This cynical strategy will not work.

The fact remains that the majority of Guyanese see the interventions by our regional and international partners as actions that are in support of our fight to maintain our democracy and not fall into a dictatorship.

One must never forget that it was this same APNU+AFC Coalition officials who had called upon these same ‘foreign’ entities to sanction the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in 2014, when a constitutionally catered-for provision – pro-

rogation – was enacted.

In November 2014, it was Granger who had said: “Other countries in the Commonwealth have been sanctioned before for breach of democra cy…I would say that the government would be well advised to avoid sanctions and comply with international norms. “…sanctions will inevitably affect all Guyanese citizens. We will all suffer once there are sanctions.

The question is who will suffer most and whether that period of suffering – which is bound to be short – is going to have the effect of bringing about a change in government’s behaviour.

I do believe so….sanctions will have a short term effect and we all hope that the government will be wise enough to act so the sanctions will not prolong.”

Strange that Granger saw sanctions as a means of ensuring compliance with international norms in 2014, but in 2020 he and the cabal he leads are claiming that the regional and international community are trespassing on Guyana’s sovereignty.

The fact remains that while the APNU+AFC Coalition, continues to cry foul about ‘foreign powers’ trespassing on Guyana’s sovereignty, they are denying those same rights to their citizens What is clear is that the Coalition stands alone, while all the opposition political parties, civil society, the regional community, the international community and most all of the organisations, of which Guyana is a member state, stands on the side of democracy. No amount of rhetoric from the Coalition’s camp will change this.

Guyanese can be encouraged that, while the struggle has been long, the end will come and the only end acceptable is one that sees a democratic and peaceful transition of power and sees the will of the people prevailing.

22

Guyana’s COVID-19 cases up to 350 ‒ deaths stand at 19 T he Ministry of Public Health disclosed that Guyana now has 350 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The country’s record of deaths stands at 19. The first COVID-19 death was recoded on March 11, 2020.

To date, a total of 3,919 tests have been administered. Additionally, there have been 165 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 14 million people having been confirmed as victims of COVID-19, while there have been over 607,000 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.

CanSino COVID-19 vaccine shows immune response in human trial (Reuters) - A COVID-19 vaccine developed by CanSino Biologics Inc (6185.HK) and China’s military research unit has shown to be safe and induced immune response in most of the recipients, researchers said on Monday.

The CanSino candidate, named Ad5-nCOV, is one of a handful of vaccines that have shown some promise in human testing and are gearing up for late-stage trials, along with projects involving Moderna Inc (MRNA.O), BioNTech SE (BNTX.O) and Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (INO.O).

While CanSino’s vaccine has yet to start late-stage large-scale clinical trials to assess how well it works to prevent people from becoming infected, it has received the greenlight to be used in China’s military.

The results from the midstage study, published in the medical journal Lancet, supports the testing of the vaccine candidate in a large trial, the study authors said.

The vaccine candidate uses a virus called adenovirus to carry genetic material from the new coronavirus’ protein into the human body, a meth-

od also used by researchers at the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca (AZN.L) for their vaccine candidate.

The immune responses elicited by the vaccine might be undermined if the inoculated person has already developed high-level adenovirus immunity from a previous infection, Chinese researchers said in a peer-reviewed paper.

CanSino counts Lilly Asia Ventures, backed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.N), as its top shareholder, according to Refinitiv data.

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

Oxford vaccine triggers immune response (BBC) A coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford appears safe and triggers an immune response.

Trials involving 1,077 people showed the injection led to them making antibodies and T-cells that can fight coronavirus. The findings are hugely promising, but it is still too soon to know if this is enough to offer protection and larger trials are under way.

The UK has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine.

HOW DOES THE VACCINE WORK? The vaccine – called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 – is being developed at unprecedented speed.

It is made from a genetically engineered virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees.

It has been heavily modified, first so it cannot cause infections in people and also to make it “look” more like coronavirus.

Scientists did this by transferring the genetic instructions for the coronavirus’s “spike protein” – the crucial tool it uses to invade our cells – to the vaccine they were developing.

This means the vaccine resembles the coronavirus and the immune system can learn how to attack it.

WHAT ARE ANTIBODIES AND T-CELLS? Much of the focus on coronavirus so far has been about antibodies, but these are only one part of our immune defence.

Antibodies are small proteins made by the immune system that stick onto the surface of viruses.

Neutralising antibodies can disable the coronavirus.

T-cells, a type of white blood cell, help co-ordinate the immune system and are able to spot which of the body’s cells have been infected and destroy them.

Nearly all effective vaccines induce both an antibody and a T-cell response.

Levels of T-cells peaked 14 days after vaccination and antibody levels peaked after 28 days. The study has not run for long enough to understand how long they may last, the study in the Lancet showed.

Prof Andrew Pollard,

from the Oxford research group told the BBC, “We’re really pleased with the results published today as we’re seeing both neutralising antibodies and T-cells.

They’re extremely promising and we believe the type of response that may be associated with protection.

But the key question everyone wants to know is does the vaccine work, does it offer protection… and we’re in a waiting game.”

The study showed 90% of people developed neutralising antibodies after one dose. Only ten people were given two doses and all of them produced neutralising antibodies.

“We don’t know the level needed for protection, but we can maximise responses with a second dose,” Prof Pollard told the BBC. IS IT SAFE? Yes, but there are side-effects.

There were no dangerous side-effects from taking the vaccine, however, 70% of people on the trial developed either fever or headache.

The researchers say this could be managed with paracetamol.

Prof Sarah Gilbert, from the University of Oxford, UK, said, “There is still much work to be done before we can confirm if our vaccine will help manage the Covid-19 pandemic, but these early results hold promise.”

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS IN THE TRIAL? The results so far are promising, but their main purpose is to ensure the vaccine is safe enough to give to people.

The study cannot show whether the vaccine can either prevent people from becoming ill or even lessen their symptoms of Covid-19.

More than 10,000 people will take part in the next stage of the trials in the UK. However, the trial has also been expanded to other countries because levels of coronavirus are low in the UK, making it hard to know if the vaccine is effective.

There will be a large trial involving 30,000 people in the US as well 2,000 in South Africa and 5,000 in Brazil.

There are also calls to perform “challenge trials” in which vaccinated people are deliberately infected with coronavirus. However, there are ethical concerns due to a lack of treatments.

WHEN WILL I GET A VACCINE? It is possible a coronavirus vaccine will be proven effective before the end of the year, however, it will not be widely available.

Health and care workers will be prioritised as will people who are deemed at high risk from Covid-19 due to their age or medical conditions.

However, widespread vaccination is likely to be, at the earliest, next year even if everything goes to plan.

Boris Johnson said: “Obviously I’m hopeful, I’ve got my fingers crossed, but to say I’m 100% confident we’ll get a vaccine this year, or indeed next year, is, alas, just an exaggeration.

We’re not there yet.”

WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE WITH OTHER VACCINES? The Oxford vaccine is not the first to reach this stage, with groups in the US and China also publishing similar results.

The US company, Moderna, was first out of the blocks and its vaccine can produce neutralising antibodies. They are injecting coronavirus RNA (its genetic code), which then starts making viral proteins in order to trigger an immune response.

The companies BioNtech and Pfizer have also had positive results using their RNA vaccine.

A technique similar to the Oxford one, developed in China, also also seems promising.

However, all these approaches are at the absolute boundary of science and have not been proven to work before.

More traditional methods of vaccine development are also being investigated. The company Valneva is taking the whole coronavirus, inactivating it and then inject it.

In total there are 23 coronavirus vaccines in clinical trials around the world and another 140 in early stage development.

WEEKEND MIRROR 25-26 JULY, 2020

23

PPP/C teams continue to support vulnerable communities battling impacts of COVID-19

Court process being used to ERC says COVID-19 hampering obstruct the inevitable – Phillips investigations of complaints

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he continued approached to the judiciary exposes the fact that the de facto APNU+AFC Coalition is intent on obstructing the declaration of final election results, according to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) prime ministerial candidate, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips.

During an interview on Wednesday (July 22, 2020) on Trinidad and Tobago’s CCN TV6, he said, “As of today it is 141 days since the elections…I would not be surprised if the matter now placed before the Court of

Appeal comes to a similar ruling as the Caribbean Court of Justice, which is that the recount is valid and the results must be used to determine the winner. “…the court system is being used to obstruct the process, but it is inevitable that the process will end….they are repeating allegations but the laws state clearly that any grievance should be addressed in an elections petition….the law provides for an approach to the court 28 days after via an election petition…they are doing what they are doing now because they know

clearly, twist it or turn it, that the APNU+AFC lost these elections….the court process is being used to obstruct the inevitable.”

Asked about possible tensions in Guyanese society, Phillips underscored the fact that the people have been patient. “We will continue to call for patience…you have to respect the will of the people, so we can have a government through democratic means,” he said.

The PPP/C prime ministerial candidate expressed optimism that democracy will, inevitably, prevail.

A

dmitting that it continues to receive a “receive a plethora of complaints” that are deemed to be “racially insensitive and inciting” and aimed at prominent political figures, among others, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) noted that its investigative capacity is hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement on Friday (July 17, 2020), the ERC said, “The Commission wishes to inform that, with its capacity unavoidably re-

duced resulting from adherence to COVID-19 protocols and restrictions, it has, and continues to work towards assessing and investigating complaints in a timeframe within the context noted.

“The Commission, being fully cognizant of the devastating impact these incidents, which incite race hate and violence, have on the further widening of division among the ethnic groups and the need for investigations to be completed swiftly, seeks the public’s indulgence for understanding. It assures of its continual efforts to work assiduously to have these matters resolved within the shortest possible time.”

Earlier this month, a letter was dispatched to the ERC by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), complaining about divisive remarks made by the PNCled APNU+AFC Coalition’s prime ministerial candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan. Signed

by PPP/C rep, Anil Nandlall, the letter called for an investigation and action by the ERC. The letter, dated July 2, 2020, said, “The PPP/C hereby lodges a complaint against Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan. Mr. Ramjattan, speaking on a live television program titled Morning Edition, broadcast on CCN TV6 in Trinidad

and Tobago, today, June 2, 2020, published the following words: ‘Black People 0000 sot oil money you have to have East Indians doing that’. Mr. Ramjattan alleged that these words were part of political advertisements published in Guyana. It is clear that these words were intended and are capable of inciting racial hostilities amongst the people of Guyana, in particular between Indo and Afro-Guyanese, may constitute an offence under the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01, Laws of Guyana, and are not protected by Article 146 of the Constitution of Guyana which guarantees freedom of expression and free speech, excepting, inter alia, ‘expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility against any person or class of persons’. In the circumstances, we request that the Commission launches an investigation of this complaint and take such actions that it considers necessary and appropriate against Mr. Ramjattan, immediately.”

Further, the ERC noted its disappointment over the attempts to divide our Guyanese, despite calls for responsible actions. “Those calls are therefore reiterated with the fervent hope they will be heeded,” the Commission said.

APNU activist charged for threatening to kill GECOM’s Chair

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well-known activist of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Ryan Williams, was on Monday (July 20, 2020) released on $500,000 bail, after being charged for threatening to kill Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh.

Williams, of Silver City, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) made a virtual appearance before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

He was charged with the offence of using a computer system to compel a person, however, he pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution is contending that Williams utilised social media – his Facebook page – to threaten to kill the GECOM Chairperson.

It was reported that Wil-

liams, under a fake profile (Raheem Rahaman), made the threat. The threat was made against the Chairperson after she had discarded several fraudulent reports submitted by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield after he continuously failed to adhere to her directive of using the results from the recount exercise to compile his report. In addition to this threat, a disturbing video on social media showed persons conducting a makeshift funeral with a doll which they say is the GECOM Chair.

In April 2020, Justice Singh had reported a death threat on her life to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

“They have a bounty on my head from Friday [April 17, 2020] night,” Singh had said.

Williams will make his next court appearance on August 3, 2020.

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