Dear Editor,
ON Wednesday, July 8 2020 the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) scrapped the Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield’s report that shows the governing coalition was expected to declare A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) the winner of the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections.

The CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders said categorically in its unanimous decision by the panel of judges that “the court also declared that the report of the Chief Elections Officer of 23rd June, 2020 is similarly of no effect.” The court also threw out Order 60 of 2020 of the National Recount. Therefore the ballot recount verification process is out. The CEO original report with the Statement of Polls (SOPS) from district 1-10 are now the only basis for an official declaration of the 2nd March, 2020 general elections. Guyana Elections Commission GECOM cannot invalidate electoral fraud and cannot invalidate the official SOPS FOR DISTRICT1-10. Only then can the dissatisfied stakeholders file an election petition after the President elect is sworn into office.

It is public knowledge that the ballot recount verification process was done as a result of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) raising concerns over the elections results that led to them approaching the court on three separate occasions, obstructing the work of the Elections Commission and called for recount although the 2020 elections results were free and fair.
In an effort to please the Opposition party. President David Granger refused to sown-in on basis for the official elections results by GECOM and allowed for a national recounts under order 60/ 2020 This process was done by the GECOM.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has now thrown out the national recount of votes of the March 2. 2020 elections under order 60 of 2020 and made it clear that it is not the responsibility of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to investigate claims of discrepancies and anomalies occurring in the March 2 General and Regional Elections such an investigation is in the domain of the Court and not GECOM which I agreed with. The Chief Election Officer should adhere to the CCJ ruling to bring a speedily closure to the political and economic crisis which can only be achieve by him by resubmitting his original report to GECOM with the SOPS from district 1-10 that shows the governing coalition as the winner of the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections so that a declaration can be made and the country can move forward.

Should there be any concerns arsis thereon by any political party or group it should be address through an election petition which will be in keeping with our constitution electoral laws and the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling on Wednesday, July 8. 2020.
Yours faithfully.
Rayvonne P. Bourne