–says electoral reform should be pursued urgently

THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) has said that it is pleased with continued developments to hold the recalcitrant officers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) accountable for their alleged partial and perverse actions during the protracted March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Currently, Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers and Returning Officer for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo, are before the court for allegations related to electoral fraud.
More specifically, Lowenfield is faced with three counts of Misconduct in Public Office, and three counts of Forgery, while Mingo was charged with four counts of Misconduct in Public Office, and Myers, two counts of Misconduct in Public Office.
The GCCI, an accredited observer to the recent elections, said that it witnessed several acts of obfuscation, and open defiance to the instructions of the commission and the courts, by agents who are duty-bound to uphold the law.

“Their open defiance and abdication of their statutory responsibility placed Guyana in a precarious situation where attempts at subverting the will of the people could have placed our country in the league of pariah states,” the GCCI recognised.
Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers have been accused of attempting to alter the results of the elections, which show a win for the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), in favour of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).
The GCCI further urged: “This stark reminder of our difficult history during undemocratic days be used as the impetus to undertake the necessary reforms to the electoral process.”
To this end, the body has issued a call for the leadership of Guyana to pursue electoral reform with the “greatest of urgency.”

“The GCCI anticipates the input and involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, so as to be able to solicit ideas on the strongest sets of reforms as possible. It is imperative that these reforms are undertaken to ensure that the inalienable rights of every citizen of Guyana are protected, and that our democracy – a pre-condition to a growing economy – is fortified in its safeguarding,” the body concluded. In addition to the ongoing legal action, the PPP/C-nominated GECOM Commissioners have tabled three motions, dated June 1, 2021, seeking the “immediate dismissal” of Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo. The motion for dismissal introduced for the immediate dismissal of Lowenfield, was moved by attorney-at-law, Commissioner Sase Gunraj, on the premise that Lowenfield had, allegedly, breached his functions, duties, responsibilities and obligations as CEO. The motion was seconded by Gunraj’s colleague attorney-at-law, Commissioner Bibi Shadick.
With $1.1 billion already budgeted for the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE) intended for this year, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that he would not be going to the polls with Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers remaining key officers at GECOM.