APNU Commissioners a no-show at meeting to certify election results

The three GECOM-nominated commissioners for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) did not show up to a meeting called by Chairman of the Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, to certify the results of the September 1 general and regional elections ahead of a declaration.

The meeting was summoned for 11:00 pm but had to be adjourned since there was no quorum, owing to the absence of the three APNU commissioners: Charles Corbin, Desmond Trotman and Vincent Alexander.

“It was reported to us by the Chairman that the notification of the meeting was sent via email, it was sent via WhatsApp, and calls were made to all Commissioners.

“But we have turned up this evening, and there has been a no-show by the three commissioners,” PPP/C GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj told reporters outside the GECOM office in Kingston, Georgetown, on Friday night.

So, what happens next? As catered for in the constitution, the chairman of GECOM can summon another meeting within 24 hours, and once four commissioners are present (the chairman is counted as a commissioner), the commission can certify the election results and pave the way for a declaration to be made.

With the recount of Subdistrict Four of District 4 and parts of District Five complete, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) has to ascertain the election results and present his report to the Commission, as mandated by Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act.

The CEO’s role is to compile and present the results based on the declarations made by the respective Returning Officers, and to incorporate the findings of any legitimate recounts.

Once this is done, an official declaration can be made.

International and local observers have hailed the polls as free, fair, free and transparent with no major issues.

The recount of some ballots was requested by the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); the results did not change the outcome of the polls, which showed a massive victory for the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).

APNU suffered a major blow in the September 1 polls, failing to secure any regional seats and losing its status as the country’s main Opposition party.

As a matter of fact, the recount figures show APNU losing seven votes and the PPP gaining two more.