U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Canada discuss ‘democratic transition in Guyana’

The United States Government continues to pay close attention to the aftermath of Guyana’s March 2 general and regional elections.

The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo on Monday tweeted that he spoke with the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland about “support for democratic transition in Guyana.”

“Spoke today with Canadian Deputy Prime Minister @CAFreeland to discuss the crisis in Venezuela, the COVID-19 outbreak, support for democratic transition in Guyana, and the importance of continued strong @OAS_Official leadership on democracy and human rights,” Pompeo tweeted on his official Twitter account.

This is the third public pronouncement from the United States following the allegations of electoral fraud at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The US Government continues to maintain that vote tabulation marred Guyana’s elections.

“The people of #Guyana deserve a credible election and transfer of power that reflects their will.

“Vote tabulation irregularities marred #Guyana’s March 2 elections. Our Ambassador and many observers saw flawed tabulation. Irrespective of today’s legal proceedings, any government sworn in on the basis of that result would not be legitimate,” Ambassador Michael Kozak, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs of the U.S. Department of State had tweeted.

On March 6, the Ambassador urged that no candidate is sworn in until issues are resolved surrounding the declaration of unverified results for the country’s largest voting district.

“At this juncture, preparations to install officials without resolving the serious issues identified in the vote counting process would create a climate of uncertainty for the citizens of Guyana, Guyana’s international partners, and businesses looking to invest in Guyana,” Ambassador Kozak had said.

International governments, including the U.S., UK, Canada, and the EU, along with observers from the Commonwealth, the OAS, the EU and CARICOM, have all said that if the verification of the Region Four Statements of Poll are not completed, the elections results would not be credible.

Mr Clairmont Mingo, the Returning Officer for the Region Four Electoral District, on Thursday last signed off on a declaration that put the APNU+AFC in the lead to take the seat of government, but the opposition says if verification of the statements of poll are verified, it would show the PPP winning.

The opposition PPP and international and local observers want to see the verification process completed before any declaration of the overall results of the elections are made.

Mr Mingo has not been seen since he declared the unverified results.