Elections Watch


Stabroek News
March 25, 2001


Guyana can only go forward if it can transcend ethnic politics - Commonwealth Observer Group

The Commonwealth Observer Group has said it is their belief that Guyana will only be able to go forward if it can transcend its still largely ethnic politics and find a way to build inclusiveness and unity.

Chairperson of the group, Ieremia Tabai, in a departure statement yesterday, said "that is the pre-eminent challenge before the people and institutions of this country. We wish the people of Guyana well as they face this central challenge."

One of a number of groups that came here to monitor last Monday's general and regional elections, part of the Commonwealth Observer Group was in Guyana since February 26, and they have been able to observe the campaign, the preparations for the elections, the polling, the counting of votes and the results process, the press statement said.

The Group had noted in their Interim Statement that in many ways "this was a good election." And "we have no reason to change the overall assessment we made in our Interim Report," they asserted yesterday, noting that since the Interim Statement they had seen more of the results process and "it has been very slow."

In their view, "while there is clearly a great deal of work to be done to improve election arrangements for the future, we believe that these elections provide a basis for Guyana to go forward."

Stating that the results process together with the errors in the Voters List have detracted from otherwise praiseworthy arrangements, the Group expressed hope that before the next elections better arrangements can be put in place.

They wished also that their report would make a small but positive contribution to what they trust would be a bright future for Guyana. "We are sure that the Commonwealth will continue to take a keen and constructive interest in that future and that it will continue to respond to any requests for assistance," they stated.

One member of the Group and two Commonmwealth Secretariat staff members will remain here for a short period as representatives of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the statement added.



Over 7,000 ballots rejected - Elections Commission

Chief Election Officer Gocool Boodoo has announced that the Elections Commission will publish the names of polling stations for each polling district, together with the votes cast for each list of candidates at that polling station for the just concluded regional and national elections.

This publication, because of its volume, will be carried in the weekend newspapers of March 31, a public notice signed by Boodoo said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Elections Commission Major General (rtd) Joe Singh has declared the number of rejected ballots in accordance with the provisions of Section 99 of the Representation of the People's Act.

General elections

Polling district ..................................................Rejected ballots

Barima/Waini ...............................................................542

Region One

Pomeroon/Supenaam ....................................................461

Region Two

Essequibo Islands/West Demerara ..............................846

Region Three

Demerara/Mahaica ...................................................2,384

Region Four

Mahaica/Berbice .........................................................460

Region Five

East Berbice/Corentyne............................................1,553

Region Six

Cuyuni/Mazaruni .........................................................136

Region Seven

Potaro/Siparuni ..........................................................150

Region Eight

Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo................................. 272

Region Nine

Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice ...............................397

Region Ten

Total ......................................................................7,201

Regional elections

Polling district .............................................Rejected ballots

Barima/Waini ............................................................594

Region One

Pomeroon/Supenaam .................................................495

Region Two

Essequibo Islands/West Demerara ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;977

Region Three

Demerara/Mahaica ................................................2,934

Region Four

Mahaica/Berbice ......................................................501

Region Five

East Berbice/Corentyne .........................................1,465

Region Six

Cuyuni/Mazaruni ......................................................176

Region Seven

Potaro/Siparuni ........................................................148

Region Eight

Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo ...............................335

Region Nine

Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice ..............................480

Region Ten

Total ......................................................................8,105



Wrong seat allocation

A table in Friday's edition of this newspaper mistakenly attributed one geographic seat in Region Four to the PPP/C when it should have been given to the PNC.

The actual figures should read four seats for the PNC and three seats for the PPP. This then changes the total number of geographic and national seats for the two parties. The PNC therefore have 13 geographic and 14 national seats, the PPP 11 geographic and 24 national. The final table should look like this:

.....................................Geographic .....................National.......... Total

PPP ......................................11 ..................................24................. 35

PNC .....................................13 ..................................14................. 27

GAP .......................................1 ....................................1 ...................2

ROAR ...........................................................................1 ...................1

Stabroek News regrets the error.



Crowd gathered to hear ruling

Singing disrupts court

A small but orderly crowd assembled outside the High Court yesterday morning in the hope of hearing Chief Justice, Desiree Bernard's decision on the injunction sought by the PNC REFORM, first hand.

Gathering from as early as 0900 hrs, women, students and men stood peacefully behind police barricades and vowed to stay there until they heard from the court.

At about 1055 hrs, in harmony with the chiming of the New Building Society's clock, they burst into some gospel spirituals prompting Emily Dodson and Sean Allicock, lawyers for PNC's executive member, Joseph Hamilton who filed the restraining order, to leave the confines of the court and appeal to them for quiet.

However, after being silent for a few minutes, they lifted their voices in chorus again, again drawing the attorneys onto the street. This time, Dodson went into the crowd and painstakingly explained to them that Chief Justice Bernard was unable to hear the submissions because of the distraction. She urged them to reassemble at another angle if they insisted on singing.

At this point, the police took a decision to push back the barricades, moving the crowd further away from the court. This action was supported by the crowd, who helped the police to lift the barricades and then enquired if their new spot was in keeping with the ranks' plans.

A University of Guyana (UG) student who was in the gathering told this newspaper that he was prepared to stand in the vicinity of the court until he heard word from it.

A mother of five said she had left her six-month-old baby in the care of her ten-year-old daughter since 0800 hrs so she could be part of the "court action". She said she wanted to know what was happening and that was a cost she was willing to pay.

Further up the road, some women decided to take up their concerns with some male officers, but in the main the some 200 persons gathered maintained the peace and behaved orderly.

Upon learning that the matter had been adjourned they left the area in groups.



PNC/R concerned about post-elections

police violence, social unrest

The People's National Congress REFORM (PNC/R) has expressed deep concern that despite its repeated calls for all Guyanese to remain calm and keep the peace, the immediate post-elections period has been marred by incidents of police violence and social unrest.

A press release from the party Friday asserted that it "will defend the constitutional right of all citizens to peacefully protest and to register their disenchantment."

In that light, the PNC/R said it had to denounce the excessive force and violence employed by the Guyana Police Force in handling a group of mostly female citizens in Ann's Grove, East Coast Demerara, on Friday.

"The Police, from all reports, wantonly and indiscriminately fired live rounds and tear gas at the people gathered in the Ann's Grove market area. The lives of innocent children who formed part of the gathering were also threatened," the release said.

And the party declared that it is "concerned that in light of the continued aggravation by the Police Force, the restraint that the PNC REFORM has encouraged of all Guyanese may not be enough to contain their frustration."

Noting that it is the responsibility of the Guyana Police Force to protect and serve the rights of all citizens and to ensure law and order in the nation, the PNC/R "recommends that it does so in a manner that would gain the trust and confidence of the Guyanese public and which would not violate the rights of citizens to have their voices heard."

According to the release, in the Ann's Grove incident, Norris Allen, 27, was at work in a carpentry shop when he was shot in the leg. Two more persons were also shot, one of whom was Bernard Pellew, who was shot in his shoulder and foot as he was filling a bucket of water. The party alleged also that in another "serious incident" some elements of the Police Force made a totally unwarranted and unprovoked raid on the home of PNC/R candidate Myrna Peterkin in Haslington, East Coast Demerara.