— but acknowledged need for quickening the pace of recount

By Gabriella Chapman

THE A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) have commended the recount process thus far, even though the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has criticised the current pace as slow.

Day three on Friday got off on a good note with positive feedback from agents and local observes.

Minister with Responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, told reporters that the process is getting better as it progresses. She said the pace may seem a bit slow but several things have to be taken into account in the recounting.
She said it must also be noted that not every day the same set of staffers work at any given work station.

“After the first week or two we can build a better momentum. I expect we can do more boxes and that depends on the box that they bring out because it varies. But all in all, we’re moving and once the process is moving, we know that we are walking right to the end. We’re committed to the process as a coalition, to stick with it to the end, to allow for GECOM to do their work, to respect the process. They have gazetted the order, we all saw the order, and it was agreed on. Even what you like and don’t like, GECOM is in control of this process, and you would have heard it from no other person than His Excellency that he will allow for GECOM to do their work… We are confident, we are humble and we are looking,” Broomes said.

As some agents are complaining about the tabulation process, she further commented that “GECOM is in control of this process, so if GECOM says we’re going to tabulate to the end of the day, we’ll tabulate to the end of the day. We don’t have any problem. We’re starting this where everyone is at the same line. Nobody got any advantage over anybody with this.

It’s what is in the box is what we’re going through. It can’t get any better than this. But I find that there are no qualms in GECOM’s intention at this time. GECOM is doing its best to bring credible results. The eyes of the eagle are on the recount, and that is why we are here.”
Echoing Broomes’ sentiment, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, added that the public has to be patient with this process.

UNPRECEDENTED SCENARIO
“This is an unprecedented kind of a scenario. The last one that I know of that happened, that took months, probably a year or so. We are going to learn of the time it takes really, by midway, after the second week. More and more you will see people getting more and more efficient. Because [at] the start off, we might not have every one of them understanding everything.

So time, if it’s regarding slothful now, it can be improved upon, and I really can’t answer the question of how long it takes, but whatever length of time it takes, I want everybody, political parties, press people, to all the citizens out there, to appreciate the need for patience, because quite frankly, this is what is going to bring it to a finality. If we have to wait a couple more days, why not?” Ramjattan emphasised.
PSC Chairman, Gerry Gouveia, who is functioning as a local observer, said the process is indeed slow but he is absolutely impressed with the work of GECOM.

“I believe it is slow but I believe that we have to legitimately answer all the queries of political parties. It is a recount of the ballots so I believe that is the important thing. I think the process is a very good process. I am impressed; it is very transparent, very credible.

The GECOM staff that are conducting it are very well trained and they are being vigilant and very professional and very courteous. So I believe that the process as it is, is a good one and I think as they go on, the process will speed up. I personally have not seen any deliberate attempt by GECOM to slow it down,” Gouveia said.
He explained further that there are over 10 observers and they have all given him positive feedback on the process.

VERY GOOD REPORTS
“All the reports we are getting from our observers are very good; that the GECOM staff are doing their job with discipline and diligence and professionalism. The big thing now is time. If they’re doing the same level of diligence they’re doing now, there will be difficulty in completing in 25 days and I believe the answer should and would have been more stations. I think that we all recognise 10 stations to count 2,339 boxes is a stretch. We would have had to be doing that at about 100 a day… I guess we will see as it speeds up,” he said.

Meanwhile, PPP agent, Anil Nandlall, said that the pace is a fundamental issue for his party.

“It is undesirable and we hope, every day, that we can increase the speed of the process. Yesterday for the first time, the tabulation exercise got underway. Unfortunately, it did not complete or unfold as we expected. We were told that all the boxes counted for the day, will be tabulated at the end of that day, and that did not happen. Some 63 boxes were counted and only just over 20 were tabulated, completed in the tabulation centre yesterday, and that has to improve. We are hoping that we can get GECOM to increase the hours of the tabulation exercise,” Nandlall complained.
He said that the report is that the tabulation exercise is being delayed because of the dependence upon an observation report.

“[THIS], I have articulated yesterday has no relevance to the tabulation exercise. And I am told that the preparation of that report is a time consuming exercise and that is what is causing some delay in the tabulation exercise. We hope to iron out that today,” he said.
However, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, did indicate that the observation report is absolutely necessary for the process.
GECOM is working assiduously to ensure a smooth, transparent flow of this national recount exercise.