COI into 2020 elections soon – says Vice President Jagdeo
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, August 16, 2020
An investigation into the aftermath of the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections, is set to commence soon. According to the new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government, persons will be held accountable.
Following the March 2 polls, the country was unnecessarily thrown into electoral turmoil and was made to endure months of legal and constitutional battles in the courts due to the APNU+AFC Coalition Government’s actions of subverting democracy and the “will of the people”, by refusing to accept the results of the elections which showed a clear win for the PPP/C.
The former APNU+AFC Coalition Administration was accused of subverting democracy and the “will of the people”, by refusing to accept the result of the elections which showed a win for the PPP/C.
Vice President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Hon. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, said a Commission of Inquiry (COI) must be held to ensure that the country does not “repeat this in our history”.
The PPP/C Government, he said, will also be considering the recommendations coming out of the COI which will be used for a reform of the electoral system.
“There will be international people on that COI. Some people will have to bear the consequences for illegal actions,” the Vice President told a Friday news conference.
The first mention of an investigation into the elections was made by President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, during his inauguration speech on Saturday, August 8.
“All of us have an obligation to the nation and to ourselves to ensure that, never again, should any generation of our people be subjected to such unlawful behaviour. Therefore, a review of events related to the electoral process over the last five months will begin shortly to determine forensically exactly what transpired and to hold accountable any person who sought to pervert and corrupt the system.”
The Head of State said too that all necessary reforms will be pursued to make democracy stronger, and the electoral process more transparent.