SUPPORT is being sought from the Carter Center for an immediate, impartial and independent International Forensic Audit of the 11 May, 2015 General and Regional elections in Guyana. The call was made by the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) after a meeting with Mr Jason Calder, a representative from the Carter Center, who headed the Center’s 55-member electoral observer mission that was fielded for the recent polls. The meeting was held at the IAC headquarters in Quamina Street, Georgetown.

“This step can help reduce the intense suspicions and create an atmosphere within which citizens can work to address major issues of insecurity affecting our society,” said the IAC in a statement released on Monday.
The IAC noted that, with the aim of strengthening democracy in Guyana, the entire Diplomatic Community resident in Guyana is also called on to support this move.

SUPPORTING CHALLENGE
The Committee also stated its support for the legal challenge being advanced by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).
”The IAC advised the Carter Center, that while it is always prepared to work with the Government of the day, it fully supports an election petition to the courts by the PPP/C as it is an exercise of the constitutional rights of any group or individual to do so with the aim of furthering democracy in Guyana,” the statement from the group said.
The PPP/C is contesting the election results, after flagging several irregularities in the electoral process.
The problems in the electoral process highlighted by the PPP/C in the last two weeks include: the discovery of falsified Statements of Polls (SoPs), the refusal of GECOM to have public vetting of polling day staffers, many of whom were discovered to be activists of the political Opposition, misdirection by some GECOM staffers who advised voters, damaged stamps that saw some ballots not being properly stamped, the fact that persons without identification cards were allowed to vote even though their images did not match those in the files of GECOM staff, and the denial of proxy holders to use their proxies, among others.
Recounts were requested before and after the official declarations were made, but these were rejected. Also denied was the PPP/C request for the SoPs, Tally Sheets and a breakdown of results of each Polling Division or Ballot Boxes.
As such, the PPP/C is currently preparing its legal challenge, via an elections petition, which will be filed with the High Court.
The current A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration scored a close victory in the General and Regional Elections with 207,200 votes, while the PPP/C secured the support of 202,694 Guyanese who cast their votes in support of the party.
SOCIAL COHESION
Meanwhile, the IAC has committed to continue acting as democracy’s watchdog and continues to promote and protect the rights of Indo-Guyanese as it has been doing since 2003.
“The IAC is cognisant of the history of this country since the early 1960’s when political strife led to the deaths of almost two hundred citizens and resulted in massive destruction of property and displacement of persons,” the group said.
It added, “The IAC informed the Carter Center’s Jason Calder of the need for a sustained presence to support national stakeholders in addressing many of the underlying factors affecting social cohesion and breeding mistrust among the various ethnic groups in Guyana.”
Additionally, several attempts made by the Guyana Chronicle to contact the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Mr Keith Lowenfield, for a comment on the matter proved futile.