A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) says it delivered its preliminary findings from its independent audit of the Statements of Poll (SOP) to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on March 19, 2012. APNU’s executive member,, Joseph Harmon told the media that since the submission of its findings, GECOM is claiming that it has not received anything.
He disclosed that the team that conducted the verification visited the Elections Commission and presented the final report to Acting Chief Elections Officer, Calvin Benn, on Friday March 23, 2012.
This comes on the heels of a concern expressed by the Elections Commission that the APNU did not submit its findings of the statements of poll (SOP) from the November 28, Regional and General Elections.
“They appreciated the work that we had done, and Dr. Surujbally basically said that they will review our report; where we were right, they will apologise, and where there are issues that needs further clarification they will do so”, Harmon added.
APNU had announced last week that it found misconduct and illegal acts in the holding of last year’s elections, and suggested that GECOM was responsible.
However, questioned whether there was an agreement to present its findings to GECOM before it was made public, he replied in the negative.
He said that presently they are awaiting a statement from GECOM, adding that the public will be holding the Chairman to his word.
Mr. Surujbally expressed concern with regard to APNU’s findings and promised to respond in due course.
GECOM in a release last week noted that, at the time that the Commission agreed to make the SOP’s available to APNU for scrutiny, the party had given the undertaking to provide GECOM with the details of its findings.
The release stated that in view of the seriousness of the matter, GECOM is assuring all stakeholders that the concerns raised by APNU will be considered extensively at the level of the Commission and its Secretariat in a timely manner.
The statement added that immediately thereafter, the Commission will make a total and comprehensive response, addressing all of the party’s concerns.
According to GECOM, the submission of APNU’s final report is fundamental to the Commission’s consideration of the response to the party’s publicised concerns.