Electoral coup d’état

…PPP/C calls for sanctions against Lewis, others

Controversy continues to brew from the PNC-aligned radio programme on which caretaker President David Granger has appeared several times since Clairmont Mingo attempted to rig the elections on his behalf.

This time, its host, Mark Benschop and labour leader Lincoln Lewis, who was at the centre of it with the host, were incredibly insisting that Granger was “above the Constitution”, since he was an Executive President.
Lewis in response took the position that caretaker President Granger can “take action” against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) if the Commission continues to insist on declaring the results of the recount.
In an invited comment on the recent statement by Lewis, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) stated that any attempt to flout the Constitution by Granger will have serious consequences.
The PPP/C added that Granger has no power to take action against GECOM, which is a constitutional body, while noting that it is obligated to declare the elections based on the recount figures.

Further, the PPP/C related that the current situation is already tense and if the caretaker President insists on going ahead as advised by Lewis, then he was creating room for future Presidents to follow suit, and to trample on the rule of law and the Constitution.
As such, the Opposition is calling for personal sanctions against Lewis and others who are continuously pushing the country towards a return to PNC dictatorship.
Lewis, the President of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU), had  appeared on Benschop’s programme on Monday night, speaking about his expectations for GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, who is awaiting a decision of the Court of Appeal on the status on the recount results in order to declare a winner of the March 2 elections.
His expectations include that the Chair can withhold her vote from the six-member partisan Commission if the declaration of the results comes to a vote. He then outrageously suggested that President Granger can intervene in the work of GECOM if it “fails the people of the country.”
“The Constitution spoke about a President. And that President has Executive responsibilities and duties. And the President has to look on this country and look at what is taking place. He has a responsibility to ensure that peace and tranquillity run through every sector of this country,” Lewis said.
“And if the Elections Commission’s actions are inimical to the interest and intent of the Constitution and the ethos of this country, then he will have to take action. Whatever form it is. We can’t have an election that is marred with discrepancies, that we consider as rigged… Mr Granger will have to take action, if the Elections Commission fails the people of the country.”
Commenting on the matter, former presidential adviser Ramon Gaskin was critical of the implication contained in Lewis’s utterances. He pointed out that GECOM is an independent, constitutional body and if GECOM declares the PPP/C as the winner, then President Granger has no choice but to peacefully demit office like the PPP/C did in 2015.
“If GECOM uses the recount to declare the winner, they will be operating in keeping with the decision of the CCJ. And if they do that, the candidate of the PPP/C will be declared the President. And President Granger will have to demit office. That’s how it’s done in Guyana.”
“The last time GECOM declared President Granger as the President, the PPP/C, (former President) Donald Ramotar and all of them, demitted office quietly. So, to say the President will have to take action, I don’t know what he’s saying.”
Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana grants the High Court the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the legality of an election, through an election petition. Everyone, from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to the High Court to the GECOM Chair herself, has elaborated that this is the only recourse open for APNU/AFC to register its concerns regarding the election. Gaskin also referenced Article 163.
“The Constitution provides for that. They have to go to the High Court. But to say that the President can take action against GECOM if he doesn’t like the decision, that would be improper. If he was to take action against them, it would be unconstitutional. There’s nothing in the Constitution that allows the President to take action against GECOM.”
“A lot of this is foolish talk. We have to get over it. Get these elections declared. It’s nearly five months. To say the President can take action is entirely irresponsible. They have to file an election petition,” Gaskin said.
It was only recently that Hamilton Green, a former Prime Minister under the PNC regime, said during an interview on “Straight Up Live” that Granger should “…do what is necessary. Put aside the Constitution [and] put aside the laws. You are, at this moment, and will be for a long time, Commander-in-Chief. Take action so that your people, our people and the people of Guyana, will honour you, no matter what it costs.”
There was a swift backlash to his words, which were even described as advocating for a coup d’état. Green has since apologised for his words in other sections of the media, calling it a lapsus linguae, that is, a slip of the tongue. (G3)