COVID-19 now being used to delay elections recount – GECOM Commissioner

…GECOM not obligated to seek permission from Nagamootoo’s task force – Gunraj

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), as an independent constitutional body, was not obligated to seek permission from the National coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Task Force, chaired by Moses Nagamootoo, with regard to the modality for the recount of the March 2 ballots cast at the General Elections.

In fact, according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Commissioner to GECOM, Sase Gunraj, the issue of COVID-19 is now being overused to delay the recount process.
Gunraj made the damning pronouncements on Monday when he again lamented “the naked attempts at political interference” with regards to the elections recount.
“Here you have the very persons who seem disinclined to have this process proceed are the very persons who are tasked with the responsibility of crafting policy, et cetera under which this process must go on.”

He was adamant that “GECOM is an independent body, GECOM is a constitutional body not different from the Supreme Court or not different from the other rights commission, etc”.
Gunraj qualified his reference to the court and noted that the body, in recognition of its independence, made its own provisions and noted that it has, in fact, published in the Official Gazette—more than once—practice directions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explained saying “the court recognises its power and their powers are no different or no more superior than that of the GECOM and we have the power to direct our procedure and the guidelines by which we will operate”.
As such, the PPP Commissioner posited, “we [GECOM] have no duty or no obligation to seek guidance or clarity or permission from the COVID-19 Task Force…it was always my position that what we needed to do is to inform them of the decision what we have taken and that we intend to implement”.
Asked to speak to the fact that the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General had enquired about the COVID-19 measures in place to protect its officials, Gunraj told media operatives he had no difficulty with assurances being given.
He continued, however, “what I have a difficulty with, is that the issue of COVID-19 is being over-utilised as a method of tethering this process and that is what I have a difficulty with.”
Gunraj nonetheless welcomed the recommendations made by the members of the COVID-19 Task Force along with the Commissioners and Chairperson for a site visit of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
He was adamant, however, that “COVID-19 is important, it is something that should not be trifled with but of equal importance is our requirement as a constitutional body for GECOM to provide credible results to the nation”.
Pointing to the seven-week delay since the Guyanese electorate cast their ballot, the GECOM Commissioner lamented that “we are unable or perhaps unwilling to deliver credible results to the people of this nation and that is unacceptable.”
According to Gunraj, “that puts it as a national crisis not dissimilar to COVID so it should be treated with the same dispatch and given the same level of importance as COVID is given…it is a national emergency as COVID is and due regard should be given for that”.