PRESIDENTIAL candidate of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, has been called upon to “come clean” on his “true intentions” in questioning the credibility of the Revised List of Electors.The call came from General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee on Tuesday during the party’s weekly press briefing held at Freedom House, Robb Street.

“The PPP calls on Granger to come clean on his true intentions and desist from making statements that could do harm to the integrity of the elections processes,” he said.
Granger, at a fundraising event in South Ozone Park, Queens, New York last week said, “That is a dirty list; the list has suddenly gone up by a hundred thousand to 567,000. Keep your eyes open; we do not believe in that. How in three years in a country in which the population is falling, the voters list has gone up by a hundred thousand?”

GROUNDS FOR REJECTION
Rohee reasons that casting aspersions on the integrity of the electoral process could translate into grounds to reject an unfavourable outcome at the May 11 General and Regional elections.
“Could it be that Granger, in anticipation of an impending defeat at the upcoming poll, is already preparing the ground for a rejection of the poll outcome as the PNC had been notorious for doing in past elections, despite the fact that all those elections were declared free and fair and free from fear by local and international observers?” he questioned.
Rohee added, “They sprung up and have reverted to the old tactics of creating doubt in their supporters’ minds as to the integrity of the electoral process thereby creating an avenue for mischief and controversy over the election results when it is declared.”

EXPLAIN CONCERNS
The PPP General Secretary added that Granger should make his concerns known publicly regarding the voters’ list to solidify their legitimacy.
He said, “Rather than hiding under the fig leaf of broad statements and hasty generalisations, Granger ought to come clean and be specific as to exactly what his concerns are regarding the authenticity of the list.
“…Making such remarks at a time when the Claims and Objections period has come to an end raises serious questions as to the true motives behind such a declaration.”
Rohee underscored the fact that prior to Granger’s “dirty list” comments, APNU+AFC had expressed confidence in the work of GECOM.
“A few months back the very Opposition expressed complete satisfaction with GECOM’s work and confidence in the state of preparedness,” he said.
Rohee stated that in an “about turn” Granger is now sending a different message.
“Recent public statements made by the Opposition leader now send a different message, a message of panic, a SOS (Save Our Souls)…this about turn by Granger is therefore not only disingenuous but a slap in the face of GECOM and the entire staff which does not speak well for the integrity of the electoral processes,” he said.
All considered, the PPP General Secretary expressed the view that APNU+AFC’s confidence, weeks into the May 11 polls, seem diminished somewhat.
“This shows clearly that the confidence they once harboured of winning the 2015 election has severely diminished as a result of the rousing support the PPP is currently receiving from the Guyanese people,” Rohee posited.

By Vanessa Narine