See below the full statement issued by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI):

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) strongly rejects attempts being made by political parties to cast the country into uncertainty, and contrived efforts to destabilise the electoral process.

The Chamber notes the statements emanating from contesting parties claiming that they have ‘won’ in specific regions, even as votes from the Joint Services, the very first segment of the voting populace, are yet to be tabulated.

Additionally, some candidates have publicly made assertions of their opponent(s) intent to interfere with the election results and their willingness to support extreme actions, if in their opinion, those claims are realised.

The successful execution of a national election is the fundamental tenet of a democratic country.

As an accredited local observer, the Chamber rebukes any narrative or action aimed at destabilising the election process and casting society into a state of uncertainty and peril during this crucial period.

The Chamber stands firmly in its position that any self-serving attempt to usurp the electoral process must be met with strong condemnation and legal action, where necessary.

The Chamber will continue to monitor this critical period and echoes its previous calls for a free, fair, and transparent election that is accompanied by timely results, and urges all parties to maintain peace and respect for the democratic electoral process during the election and to desist from making inciteful statements that aim to undermine the legal electoral process.