GECOM aiming to complete recount in 25 days

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is aiming to complete a full national recount of votes cast at the March 2 polls in 25 days.

“We would start in anticipation of completion in 25 days. That would be subject to review within the first week based on the pace of work,” government-nominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander told reporters this afternoon after another meeting of the commissioners.

The final declaration of the results has been delayed for almost two months due to the irregularities in the tabulation of the count for Region Four, which have been highlighted by both contesting parties except for the incumbent, and international observers.

Alexander added that while there will be some broadcasting of the process there would but no live streaming as requested by the opposition-nominated Commissioners.

The request had been included as one of 10 motions brought before the Commission by opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj.

Gunraj explained that the motions served to bring to the Commission’s attention a series of decisions which had been delayed during the weeks of discussion.

“I took the time to draft 10 motions that deal with the outstanding matters,” he explained to reporters.

The first motion specifically asked for copies of the statement of polls from District Four to be made available to the Commissioners. This request was denied by a majority vote.

Requests for a local auditing body to be present during the count, another for a live broadcast of the tabulation and one for a 14-day tabulations process were similarly defeated.