264 ballots boxes counted by day six

DPI, Guyana, Monday, May 11, 2020

At the close of today, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) saw the recount of 56 ballot boxes, bringing the total number of boxes counted over the six days to 264.

Today saw 15 ballots counted for Region One, 11 for Region Two, 15 for Region Three and 12 for Region Four.

With the tabulation process commencing an hour earlier, some 247 Statements of Recount (SOR) were tabulated for the General Elections and 235 for the Regional.

As the national recount of the March 2, 2020, General and Regional elections continue, the commission is also reporting a smooth process, with some minor challenges today.

GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward said the commission looks forward to the days improving and an increase in the pace of the counting process.

Earlier today, the PRO reported that the commission met with representatives from some of the smaller parties who had requested a meeting to discuss some matters they wish addressed.

“Some of the issues they raised related to the flow of information. That is the information was not being communicated to all the workstations and the same kind of information.”

Ward said the parties requested that the commission design a methodology to ensure the same information is filtered down to all the staff members at the respective work stations so everyone will be guided accordingly and will be in compliance with those decisions.

Another issue raised was the duration of the process. The PRO noted that the commission is scheduled to meet to tomorrow review the 25-day timeline when a decision will be made whether to accelerate the process to meet the timeline or extend the period.

She also corrected an earlier statement she made stating that the declaration for each district will be made on the completion of that district.

Ward referred to the National Recount Order which showed that it is the Chief Elections Officer that will compile a report of all districts before making that submission to the commission or its consideration.