U.S. National Security stands with Guyana to protect democracy

The United States of America continues to pressure the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for a credible and transparent vote count from the March 2 general and regional elections.

In its latest comments on the situation regarding the declaration of results in Guyana, the United States National Security Council (NSC) on Monday tweeted that “The U.S. is committed to the Americas becoming the 1st fully free hemisphere. We stand with the people of #Guyana who want to protect the integrity of their democracy, maintain peace, & preserve regional stability while we collectively confront #COVID2019.”

The National Security Council endorsed the sentiments expressed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who on March 17 warned of serious consequences if a Government is formed based on electoral fraud.

“It’s important to note that the individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate governments – regimes – will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States,” Mike Pompeo, had tweeted.

The White House website noted that the National Security Council is the President’s principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials.

It noted that the Council’s function has been to advise and assist the President on national security and foreign policies. The Council also serves as the President’s principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies.

The results from the elections continue to be marred in controversy since the declaration of votes in Guyana’s largest voting district – Region Four – was deemed to be fraudulent by opposition parties, international elections observers and foreign powers here.

At the invitation of incumbent President, David Granger, a five-member high-level team from CARICOM arrived early March 15 to supervise the national recount but had to leave three days later after one of Granger’s party candidates moved to the court and was granted an injunction to block the recount.

This was despite the fact that Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Rt’d) Claudette Singh gave a commitment to the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George for the recount to be done.