THE People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) this morning strongly rejected assertions by opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), that it  is ‘seeking to disrupt the orderly counting of ballots in Region 4.’

“It is rather unfortunate that the PPP/C, in exercising its right to observe the counting process as are all other political parties, would be singled out in the ongoing misinformation campaign by APNU,” the PPP/C said in a statement released just after midnight last night.

“To the contrary, the general public should know that the APNU has been centrally directing small groups under its control to intimidate and pervert the constitutional rights of our candidates,” the PPP stated.
The party said it  has evidence of such blatant acts which it intends to reveal at the opportune time.

According to the PPP/C, there were several instances, which are well documented, when the Guyana Police Force had to respond and quell attempts by groups of orchestrated APNU supporters who tried to disrupt the transparent process of counting at some places of poll.

“APNU should tell the Guyanese people why PPP/C candidates, who, along with others from Opposition parties were merely observing the counting process, had to be escorted out of some polling places,” the PPP/C stated.

Given these indisputable occurrences, it said APNU would be forced to admit that some of its supporters have indeed ‘frustrated’ this process. The PPP/C believes that these attempts were not mere coincidences but part of a sinister plan to derail the democratic process.

“The PPP/C takes this opportunity to once again commend the Guyanese people who have conducted themselves in a very responsible manner, save and except the sporadic attempts by the small, centrally directed groups by APNU,” the party said.

It alluded to the fact that International Observers have made preliminary announcements which confirm that the elections were conducted in a free and fair manner. “This further vindicates the maturity of Guyanese, who have rejected the venomous calls of violence at the urging of the APNU,” the PPP/C stated.
It said this rejection was further demonstrated by the fact that Guyanese continued their normal social activities during and after polling across the country.

This was even more pronounced in Georgetown.

The PPP/C said it has also been monitoring the feeds posted on various social networks, where it was revealed that APNU is misleading its own supporters into believing that the party is doing well despite the fact that no official result has been announced by GECOM.

The PPP/C said it views this as a dangerous development, since such misinformation can lead to high expectations which may vary from the final results.

Such misleading information can have undesirable consequences, the party warned.

The PPP/C is urging APNU to refrain from continuing its irresponsible campaign as it seeks to justify its dismal showing at the General and Regional and Elections in 2011.

Meanwhile, APNU yesterday insisted that it is committed to ensuring that the 2011 General and Regional Elections are transparent while pointing to discrepancies in the electoral process.
The party held two separate ‘emergency’ media briefings yesterday, one at 10:30 last night,  to report its concerns.
APNU’s campaign director, Joseph Harmon, stated that “numerous” citizens claim they have not found their names on the Official List of Electors (OLE) and one elector was reportedly told that he had already voted when he attempted to vote.
“A report was received that appointed elections officials were not given ‘Certificates of Employment’ to permit them to cast their votes at the places at which they were employed,” Harmon said. APNU claims that it has received reports that previously unregistered and unknown polling stations had been brought into operation. 
“Parties did not nominate polling agents to these stations,” Harmon explained.
The campaign director stated that APNU is also concerned at the level of security at the polling stations, since several civilians in plain clothes appeared with armbands marked ‘RC’ in place of regular policemen at rural polling stations.
“A.P.N.U wishes to alert the general public, international observers and the Guyana Elections Commission that, unless the faults are rectified within the remaining hours, the integrity and validity of the elections could be compromised,” the Attorney-at-Law warned while speaking to reporters at around 16:00 hrs yesterday.
Asked whether APNU was willing to accept the elections results given these complaints, Prime Ministerial Candidate Dr Rupert Roopnaraine told the Guyana Chronicle that the party’s acceptance was dependent on the way the process developed in the last two hours (meaning from 2 pm to 4 pm yesterday afternoon).
He said APNU has also received reports of multiple voting in Timehri.
About three hours later, APNU called reporters to another press briefing, this time to report what it calls ‘disturbing actions’ by supporters of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.

“A.P.N.U wants to make it clear to GECOM and the PPP that we are determined that the outcome of these elections would be transparent and reflective of the will of the Guyanese people,” Carberry declared.
However, Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) debunked all the statements made by the opposition coalition.
Speaking to reporters last night, Dr Surujbally denied that it is possible for the name of a voter with an ID not to be on the OLE.
Further, Dr Surujbally explained that there are available  mechanisms for polling agents to vote. “Candidates of political parties are allowed to go into the polling station and the candidate can sit in for that polling agent, while that polling agent goes to exercise his civic (duty) or franchise,” he added.
According to him, the Certificate of Employment specifically deals with GECOM staff alone and party agents do not require this document.
As it relates to security, he explained that the Rural Constables at the various polling stations were merely supporting the Guyana Police Force in carrying out its duties. It is his view that ‘nothing is wrong with that.’