GEORGETOWN, Guyana--The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), in its capacity as a leading civil society organisation and as an accredited local observer group, says it welcomes the appointment of a “high-level” team headed by former Dominica Attorney General and Foreign Affairs Minister, Francine Baron and including Anthony Boatswain, former Minister of Finance of Grenada, and Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer in Department of Government at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus in Barbados.
The GCCI says it acknowledges the consensus between President David Grainger and Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on the thrust for a recount of all of the ballots cast in the 10 Electoral Districts for the March 2 General and Regional Elections.
In a statement released by the GCCI on Sunday, it says it “has taken note that some members of the Guyana Elections Commission GECOM seem to be opposed to the recount in the first instance, and the involvement of the above-mentioned
‘high-level’ team. In this regard, the GCCI take this opportunity to note its fullest support for the total recount of the votes as agreed by President Granger and Dr. Jagdeo, under comprehensive oversight of the high-level team. The GCCI is convinced that this deliberate course of action will remove all doubts about the outcomes of the elections, as a consequence of which Guyana can return to normalcy.”
The release continues, “In view of the foregoing, the GCCI calls upon all concerned, but more specifically GECOM and the contesting political parties, to move with alacrity towards putting all of the requirements in place to facilitate the intended recounts in a most efficient manner as prescribed by the extant laws and with all possible checks and balances in place towards the achievement of common acceptability of the outcome of the recounts.”
“In the meantime, the GCCI pleads with all stakeholders, especially the constituents of the political parties, to remain calm and allow the democratic processes to unfold. Guyana deserves nothing less,” the release concludes. ~ iNews Guyana ~
