Brazil says cannot just stand by as Guyana breaks from democratic principles

Brazil, Guyana’s powerful neighbour to the south, has said there must be a swift announcement of the results from the national vote recount so that Guyana can re-join democratic countries that are committed to “the most lofty principles of democracy.”

“…we cannot stand by while there is a break from democratic principles that we all committed to,” said Fernando Simas Magalhães, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Brazil to the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Ambassador Magalhães noted that this year is the eve of the 20th year of the adoption of the Inter-American Charter, which Guyana subscribes to.

According to the Inter-American Charter of the OAS, an unconstitutional interruption of the democratic order in a member state, constitutes, while it persists, an insurmountable obstacle to its government’s participation in sessions of the General Assembly, the Meeting of Consultation, the Councils of the Organization, the specialized conferences, the commissions, working groups, and other bodies of the Organization. Suspension from the OAS could eventually follow.

Ambassador Magalhães was speaking Tuesday at a special meeting of the Permanent Council of the OAS to address what he called “the very worrisome electoral situation in Guyana.”

He said there is no impediment for the results of the election not to be released.

“…at such a delicate time, it is important for the legitimate will of the popular vote be upheld, in line with rulings of the CCJ, to ensure the swift announcement of the new authorities in the country,” he stated.

“This needs to happen as soon as possible for Guyana to re-join democratic countries that are committed to the most lofty principles of democracy,” Ambassador Magalhães stated.

After the very serious observations made by the OAS Electoral Observation Mission on May 13 that there was an attempt to use fictitious numbers to declare APNU+AFC the winner of the elections when they in fact lost by over 24,000 votes, the Brazil Ambassador said it was “very important” and “appropriate” that the meeting of the OAS Permanent Council was called.

He said that Brazil believes that a further delay in declaring the results of the recount “would jeopardise the stability of Guyana.”

The Brazilian Government endorsed the appeal made by the OAS and CARICOM that the electoral process not be delayed further.