As the recount of over 100 ballot boxes from Region Four continues, Sase Gunraj, a government-nominated commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), reported on Thursday evening that there have been no significant changes in the numbers previously declared by the commission.
“Of note and great importance, there is no significant change in the numbers that are already contained in Statements of Poll (SOPs) that have led to declarations,” Gunraj stated. “There is perhaps one instance that may have been queried, but by and large, there has been no significant change in the results.”
He expressed confidence that unless a “cataclysmic” event occurs, the results are unlikely to change in any significant way. Gunraj raised concerns about the apparent lack of interest from agents of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the political party that requested the recount. He suggested that their disinterest might be a tactic to delay the inevitable re-election of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
“While there are party agents present, you are seeing no real interest from their leaders, senior members, or candidates. This raises the question of whether this is a delaying tactic to frustrate the electorate and the nation as a whole,” he remarked.
The recount process involves 25 workstations, and agents from the six political parties that contested the September 1 elections are present to observe the exercise. A total of 391 ballot boxes are set to be recounted for the sub-district of East Coast Demerara.
According to the results declared by the region’s Returning Officer, the PPP/C received 87,536 votes in District Four. In a surprising turn, the PNC-led APNU garnered only 46,956 votes, marking a significant shift as this district had never been lost by the party since it transformed into APNU in 2011, following Guyana’s independence in 1966.
The newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party also made an impact, receiving 41,607 votes in the region. The PPP/C saw an increase of 6,616 votes compared to previous elections, while APNU’s lead from 2020 was diminished by the emergence of WIN and the support it attracted.
As the recount continues, the political landscape remains tense, with many watching closely for any developments in this crucial electoral process.
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