By Beni Sankar

RECENTLY, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Gerry Gouveia, took the commission into the political arena.

For starters, like any stakeholder in the elections process, the PSC applied for and was granted observer status. Gouveia was more than an observer. He became the transport officer for the diplomats stationed in Guyana.

When the results of those elections were announced Gouveia, like the opposition forces in Guyana and the diplomats of the ABCE countries, claimed that the results for District Four lacked transparency and credibility.

The matter was taken to court and in the end a final decision was taken. But even before President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, agreed to a recount of all 10 regions.

They agreed that CARICOM would have a supervisory role in the recount.
Soon after, Gouveia decided to write to a number of foreign organisations seeking to have them influence the outcome of the recount. One letter was sent to the Organisation of American States which had fielded an observer team.

That letter was sent on behalf of the PSC but many in the PSC said that they were not consulted or shown the letter before it was sent.
The letter, which was published in the local media, echoed the sentiments of the People’s Progressive Party. Although the opposition agreed to a total recount, Gouveia, like the opposition members, wanted a recount of District Four (Region Four) alone.

This did not make sense as there would have been a lot of uncertainty of the result.
GECOM, based on the ruling of the courts, agreed to a total recount and that the recount would be done in chronological order starting with Region One.
Again Gouveia, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the PSC, said that there was no need to count the other votes since there were no objections, which is not true.
The coalition had sought recounts in four regions—Region One, Region Five, Region Six and Region Three. None was allowed.
Based on information provided by GECOM commissioners, the Chief Elections Officer produced a timetable that would see the recount taking 156 days. This is still to be discussed by the commission.

But Gouveia, like the mouthpiece of the political opposition, criticised the duration of the recount.
The opposition, on its own, did not voice an objection, publicly, but Gouveia made the opposition voice heard by writing on behalf of the PSC criticising the recount.
Guyana is in a gridlock over the elections. Every Guyanese, more so the business community, wants to see the results declared and the matter put to rest once and for all.

To limit the recount as Gouveia is advocating would not put the issue to rest. Why is he opposed to the total recount? He must have a reason. And his reason probably coincides with the opposition which also does not want a total recount but cannot object publicly because Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the PPP, agreed to it.
Gouveia has split the PSC, unnecessarily. A total recount is the only solution.