GECOM calls emergency meeting as recount stalled

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM has called an emergency meeting with all six Commissioners to deal with issues surrounding the national recount of ballots cast at the March  2 General and Regional Elections.

Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward told the News Room that the meeting will be convened shortly.

It has been three days since the five-member high-level team from CARICOM arrived in Guyana to supervise the recount at the invitation of incumbent President, David Granger in agreement with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

But the recount is yet to commence as GECOM is still trying to get logistics in place. On Monday, the Commission said it was awaiting a signed agreement between Jagdeo, Granger and CARICOM before starting the recount.

The News Room was reliably informed that the agreement was signed late Monday night and the recount is slated to commence today.

The Commission had agreed to kick off the recount with ballots cast in Guyana’s largest voting District – Region Four. The declaration of the Region Four results has come in for heavy criticisms from western nations, international and local observers and the Opposition political parties who have lamented its lack of transparency and credibility.

Foreign powers have made it clear that they will not support a President who is sworn in on the basis of the Region Four results.