PPP/C begins countrywide protests for total recount of ballots

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in its quest to get a total recount of votes conducted a peaceful protest on Wednesday in front of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) offices in Bush Lot, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and in Fort Wellington, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The protests follow a statement by former President Donald Ramotar that the Party will seek recourse via the options made available under the country’s Constitution, as the Party called on citizens to be vigilant.

In Region Two, the protest was headed by former Minister Alli Baksh and attracted over 50 PPP/C supporters from within the region. Despite the rain, the staunch supporters armed themselves with placards which read, “Surujbally Must Go”, “We demand fairness”, “They steal our votes and give to APNU”, “Cheated but not defeated” among other slogans.

The protest in Region Two, which started about 14:00h, lasted for almost six hours.

According to Baksh, who is also the PPP/C representative, the protest was to renew the call for a total recount of individual ballots of all 2299 polling stations throughout Guyana, as well as the resignation of GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally.

 “ … Is there something to hide??? If we want a total recount, why not grant us?? In 2011, recount was granted to the Opposition why can’t GECOM satisfy our request?” one supporter asked.

Over in Region Five, about 150 supporters were on the picket line, calling for a recount.

The PPP/C, in a statement on Tuesday, called on Dr Surujbally to resign, saying, prior to the May 11 General and Regional Elections, it raised concerns both publicly and privately with the GECOM Chairman, Commission and Secretariat; the advance assessment teams of the United Nations, Commonwealth and the Carter Center; the diplomatic community, and subsequently with the International Observer Missions with regard to the partiality of the GECOM machinery. The PPP/C had queried the recruitment of polling staff connected to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

The Party also cited the fact that fake Statements of Poll (SoPs) were found as grounds for a recount.

The PPP/C, which is maintaining that it won the election, is also contending that several of its requests to GECOM for copies of SoPs and Tally Sheets which were used to tabulate the results of these elections and a breakdown of the results from each Polling Division or Ballot Box were rejected.

The protesters reiterated these demands, as the Party maintained that the results declared by GECOM for the May 11 General and Regional Elections did not accurately reflect the will of the people.

The protesters have vowed to continue their action until GECOM agrees to a total recount of the ballots cast.

On Saturday, supporters of the PPP/C picketed in the Black Bush Polder area, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) simultaneously with supporters at Rose Hall Town in another part of the region.