Dear Caricom,
I have to admit that Jagdeo appears to have gotten played. He seriously appears to have lost at his own game.
See, the elections process allows for parties participating in an elections to dispute an elections result, after it is declared. The dispute is in the form of a petition for either a full or partial recount. If Gecom, to whom the petition is filed, fails, then the dispute is taken to Court.
Gecom and the Court are the only two recourse for redress; not the President and Opposition Leader. But the Opposition Leader inadvertently caused the process to drag out by continuously objecting to the Region 4 Returning Officer system or method of tabulating the votes cast. Little did he realize that he should have let the RO finish his job many days ago and then file the petition seeking a recount using SOPs and whatever method (spreadsheet or other type).
But after the Region 4 RO finished his job, Jagdeo fell into a trap of agreeing with Granger to a recount, with Caricom as overseeing witnesses. He forgot no law, rule or regulation exists to protect such agreement, making it a purely political agreement.
Jagdeo probably got distracted in his greedy quest for power that he did not realize he had up to 15 days to file a petition after the elections, and tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18, will mark the 16th day since elections to file the petition. He will be one day late. Did he get played by Granger?
Caricom folks, as well-meaning as your role may have been here, you were here as the result of a political agreement with no legal provision or framework. Sorry.
