June 20, 2016 Source
THE United States (US) had no interest in the outcome of Guyana’s May 11, 2015 General Elections, and is urging the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to focus more on promoting its ideas instead of accusing the ABC countries — US, UK and Canada — of meddling in local affairs.Outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Georgetown, Bryan Hunt, made the above disclosure and spared no words in offering advice to the PPP on how it can improve its relationship with the Guyanese people.
Ahead of the 2015 Elections, the PPP had accused the US of meddling in Guyana’s internal affairs. It had alleged that the Leadership and Democracy Programme (LEAD) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was being used to influence voters’ choices one way or the other.
“I am afraid that the reality would not support the allegation that the PPP has been making. The judgments that were made were no different from the judgments made from all of the other international bodies,” the Deputy Chief of Mission said.
In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Hunt maintained that the voting and tabulation processes in the last elections were free, fair, and credible. He pointed out that the US had close to 80 observers on the ground.
“What you actually have is a very clean electoral process in Guyana,” he said.
He said the judgments and recommendations made by the US, UK and Canada were similar to those offered by other domestic and international observers, including the Organization of American States (OAS), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Commonwealth, the Carter Centre and the Private Sector Commission (PSC).
In addressing the contention that the US had colluded with GECOM and the APNU+AFC coalition to defeat the PPP, the Deputy Chief of Mission said not only did the US adhere to the International Code of Conduct, but it had no interest in the outcome of the elections.
“The United States had no interest, going into the 2015 election, as to who won the process. It made no difference to my government whether it was the PPP/C that was re-elected or whether it was APNU+AFC that was elected,” Hunt said without any sign of uncertainty.
He explained that the US was concerned only about the process and the need for the results to be respected by all parties involved.
“Our staff was clearly told that we didn’t care who won the elections; all we were concerned about was a free and fair process and, most importantly to the people of Guyana, a peaceful process,” he added.
At a time when the PPP continues to be a stern critic of the US, Hunt has advised that the Opposition should use its time and resources to build a better relationship with the Guyanese people ahead of the 2020 Election.
“I know there are those in the PPP/C who are disappointed by the outcome of the election, but I would argue that they need to focus on trying to do a better job of selling their platform, their proposals and ideas, to the Guyanese people,” Hunt said.
He made it clear that had the results been the reverse, the US’ response would have been no different.
“Had the results been reversed, we would have taken exactly the same position — that the PPP/C should be allowed to continue in office, and that the APNU+AFC should have respected this.”
Hunt will exit the post of Deputy Head of Mission of the United States Embassy in Georgetown next month, after serving in that position for three years.
