Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield. Photo: DEMWAVES

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission Dr Steve Surujbally has announced that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic has asked for a recount of some ballots cast in all 10 administrative/electoral regions of the country on Monday May 11, 2015. Photo: VINO

According to the figures released by Lowenfield, the APNU-AFC garnered 206,817 votes compared to the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) with 201,457.

Lowenfield is still to make an official final results declaration sometime later in the day.

The PPP/C in a statement earlier today made accusations of voter fraud and demanded that the preliminary results not be released.

However, statements put out by the United States Embassy and the British High Commission in Georgetown, Guyana said that they both have not seen any evidence of the fraud that the PPP/C alleged therefore was not prepared to change its statement on the elections being free.

PPPC will not concede

The PPP/C in a press conference held today said that the party is still awaiting final results and it refused to concede. Speaking to members of the media, Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira said that the party believed it has won the elections and therefore was not prepared to concede.

In a statement to members of the media, President-elect David Arthur Granger said that supporters of the coalition should keep their victory celebrations short and sober because of the work to be done in the country.

See previous story published May 13, 2015

Guyana’s governing PPP/C demanding ballot recount

-Elections Commission likely to disclose results of May 11 polls today but may decline from declaring winner

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission Dr Steve Surujbally has announced that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic has asked for a recount of some ballots cast in all 10 administrative/electoral regions of the country on Monday May 11, 2015.

This is following the party’s requesting three of the 10 regions for recount up to late yesterday May 12, 2015. The coalition of APNU-AFC (A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance for Change) believes it has solidly won the elections after counting some 2,025 of 2,299 statements of poll.

Speaking at the press briefing held today May 13, 2015, Dr Surujbally said the Commission will be proceeding with the recount and it is hoped that the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield would be in a position to announce the results of the recounted ballots and the rest of the results at a later press conference this evening.

Likely court challenge

Meanwhile, this news site has been informed that the ruling party is taking steps to bring an injunction against the Elections Commission prohibiting them from disclosing final results.

“What we gather is that they will be moving to the court while the recount is taking place, to challenge the release of the final declaration of the winner. But in the meanwhile GECOM might this afternoon declare what the official results are, which is that APNU-AFC would have won but they can’t as yet declare a winner until the recount is over,” said a source today on the ground in Georgetown.

President urges calm

President Donald Ramotar posted a message on his Facebook page today saying that the PPPC was ahead and urging patience and calm among supporters.

“I must also recognise the effort of all Guyanese, who despite the effort of the opposition to create tension and violence have largely rejected this, in favour of peace and respect for one another,” he said.

“Our figures currently show that we are ahead in this elections but let me reaffirm that an official announcement of the elections results can only be made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM),” he concluded.
Persons are puzzled as to why a party declaring it has a lead in the elections entertain the thought of a court challenge and recount.