A powerful group of the U.S. Senate have called on President David Granger to honour the will of the Guyanese people and concede defeat at the March 02 polls. They say a declaration of the winner of the elections must be based on the national vote recount scrutinized by CARICOM.
The statement was issued by Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.)
Below is the full statement:
“Nearly four months since their national election, the Guyanese people are still waiting for an official result following the general and regional elections in their nation. This is unacceptable.
“We share in the frustration expressed by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of American States (OAS), and other international stakeholders, and call on the Guyanese authorities to issue an official election declaration that reflects the results of the March 2nd election which were confirmed in the official recount by CARICOM’s observer mission.
“Recent reports suggest questionable maneuvers by interested parties designed to continue forestalling a final declaration of results, which members of the press say indicates a defeat for the incumbent government. President Granger should honor the will of the Guyanese people and concede.
“We extend our support and solidarity to the people of Guyana, who have borne more than their fair share of patience during this process. For their sake, the future of democracy and the rule of law in our hemisphere, the ongoing uncertainty and gamesmanship must end.”
On May 12th, Risch, Menendez, Rubio, and Cardin had led several colleagues in a letter to President Granger encouraging a free, fair, and transparent recount of the presidential election.
