Over the weekend, Sherwood Lowe and I had discussions about the present political situation in Guyana, including the recount of the votes cast during the March 2nd elections. We agreed on the need for a recount that is credible and transparent, but disagreed on its politics.
Sherwood eloquently articulated his views about the recount in his article, “THE COALITION MUST MOVE EARLY DURING THE RECOUNT TO CONFIRM ITS VICTORY,“which was published on this blog today, May 4th, 2020. He posits, and I agree, the APNU-AFC Coalition expects the recount to confirm it electoral victory. However, he and I seem to disagree on almost everything else about this issue.
Sherwood feels the Coalition recount agents should not focus on spoilt votes. This would be a mistake. Every single vote is important, and therefore not one should be surrendered. Once the rules determining valid votes are determined, the Coalition recount agents must be vigilant to ensure the rules are applied evenly. They must not demur with, “we will let that pass to save time.” The rules must be the rules.
Sherwood, it appears, wants to short cut the recount process. There is no need for that, the recount will be finish in 25 days and the Coalition victory will be confirmed. There is no need for gimmicks, like the release of SOPs. Let’s have a thorough and complete process that is credible and acceptable to all impartial stakeholders. If the PPP disrupts the recount before it is complete then GECOM will have no option but to fall back on the existing declarations and swear in President David Granger. If the PPP storms the recount center, like it did at Ashmin’s Building, and contaminate critical documents, then it is all over, the existing declarations must be formalized.
Releasing SOPs at this stage will only be a distraction. The PPP released SOPs, once the recount number expose the PPP SOPs as fakes, the point is made. No need for distractions.
The original PPP strategy was to have the results for all Regions, except Region 4, declared. This would have allowed them to push for a recount of Region 4 with new and special rules created by injunctions and court rulings. Now that all Regions are declared, all must be treated equally. It will be bad strategy for the Coalition to follow the PPP playbook and make Region 4 the focus. Let there be a thorough and complete recount.