GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj posted on Facebook Friday morning: “Most stations have no APNU agents, and they requested this recount. How much more can they frustrate this nation?” It was APNU, led by Aubrey Norton, that requested a recount of the subdistrict, which includes 391 boxes, plus a partial recount of 77 boxes from District Five. On Thursday, Gunraj expressed concern that APNU agents are not showing any “real” interest in the tedious recount process, lending credibility to his earlier statements that it is delaying the inevitable re-election of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).
“While there are (party) agents in there, you are seeing no real interest from their leaders, you are seeing no real interest from their senior members, senior candidates, or anyone like that. It therefore begs the question whether this is indeed a delaying tactic to frustrate the electorate and this nation as a whole.”
Meanwhile, Rosh Khan, an accredited local observer, echoed similar sentiments. Khan posted on Facebook: “Many party agents from parties who requested the recount left GECOM last night without replacements in place. Although a few have returned this morning, the vast majority have not.” Khan said there were fleeting but heated exchanges between some party agents and other party agents and/or GECOM staff, most of which stemmed from misunderstandings of the rules and process.
He noted that “It is clear that some parties were attempting to misinform and mislead members of the public. However, after a full day and night of observation, I can say that, again, the recount process has remained fair and transparent.” APNU suffered a major blow in the September 1 General and Regional Elections, failing to secure any regional seats and losing its status as the country’s main opposition party.
The governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has won eight of the country’s 10 electoral districts—Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9. (Newroom)