Opposition Wins Disputed Vote In Guyana

July 8, 2020 | By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

In what has been a blot on the electoral process on the Caribbean … the disputed General Elections in Guyana seem to have been settled.

Former PM Bruce Golding

Jamaica’s former PM was asked to head a delegation to observe General Elections in Guyana earlier this year. Golding reported that the elections were free and fair.

Counting

The chief Electoral Official, for reasons better known to him decided to invalidate 150,000 votes belonging to the Opposition and then declared the election for the ruling party.

The decision was Appealed but the appeal Court in Guyana endorsed this irregularity.

Caribbean Court Of Justice (CCJ).

The CCJ is Guyana’s final Appellate Court. An appeal was made and today the court ruled that:

1) The final count was invalid and of no worth.

2) That the 150,000 votes declared invalid is struck down.

This means the Guyana Elections is won by the Opposition as of June 23, 2020.

Commentary

We are delighted that the apparent rape of democracy has been averted. Bravo!

Will there be violence? We hope not.

They recently found oil in abundance. Could this be the root of the problem?

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior National & International Correspondent for Vision Newspaper