https://totimes.ca/calls-for-u...f-national-election/

Calls for unity as President David Granger named once again the winner of national election

A national election in Guyana that was plagued with foreign intervention and opposition violence has been finalized. Will opposition party PPP/C accept the results or bring more embarrassment to the country?

Accusations of fraud and irregularities plagued Guyana’s national and regional elections which took place in the South American country on March 2nd. Foreign powers and international organizations have demanded the electoral process be completed transparently to provide credibility to the results.

Amid rising tensions, both of Guyana’s two main parties declared victory after the election. The results newly recounted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the only constitutionally established body authorized to declare election results, originally contained discrepancies with those released by the main opposition party, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) led by former president Bharrat Jagdeo. However, a recount on March 12 proved once again that incumbent President Granger is the victor.

The PPP/C has been accused by sitting APNU+AFC of fraud, storming the GECOM offices and leading to further democratic destabilization. Additionally, numerous outside analysts have pointed to election meddling by international players, including outside political strategy and public relations firms directly connected to the Opposition party.

All sides of the formerly disputed election have been urged to resolve the process without interference for the benefit of the Guyanese people and the economy. The Elders, an organization established by the late Nelson Mandela issued a statement on Twitter declaring that ‘nothing but the will of Guyana’s voters should determine the country’s future.

International organizations and countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean Community, the European Union, and the Organization of American States (OAS) have publicly condemned corruption in Guyana’s elections. Racial divide and sentiment of entitlement were common during the race leading up to the election.

Accusations by the country’s smaller political parties have been leveled against the Opposition for distributing dubious Statements of Polls (SOP). At the center of the election dispute were the results from Region Four, the most populous of the country’s voting districts and a traditional stronghold for the ruling Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (ANPU-AFC) party. After a recount by GECOM, the ANPU-AFC once again prevailed.

Senior diplomatic officials in Guyana have advocated for openness to restore confidence in the country’s electoral process.

Complicating the situation is the discovery of enormous offshore oil reserves estimated to contain up to eight billion barrels, resulting in a potential windfall for the country and potentially catapulting Guyana into the top ten oil-producing countries in the world. Experts have questioned whether the country will use the new riches to fund much needed economic development or fall victim to the so-called ‘oil curse,’ defined by corruption and repression.

A statement signed by more than 80 global organizations demands that ExxonMobil, other oil companies and global financial institutions publicly declare that they will only conduct business with a lawfully elected government in the country of Guyana – reinforcing the stakes of the recent election.

With the legitimacy of the election results no longer in question, those behind the statement are now expected to accept the decision.

“The judicial system seems to command respect on both sides, meaning there is hope for resolving this quickly by getting the international community behind the Supreme Court position,” said Raul Gallegos, a partner with the UK-based consultancy Control Risks.