Returning Officer denies District 4 recount

Returning Officer denies District 4 recount

—no counting agent appointed for any party and only a counting agent can request a recount

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, March 14, 2020

The request for a recount of District Four results by eight political parties has been denied by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

According to law, the decision for a recount lies with the Returning Officer.

In a statement released by GECOM through its Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward, the Returning Officer denied requests for a recount since none of the parties adhered to the statutory timeline to apply for the appointment of counting agents.

“In this regard, no counting agent was duly appointed for any of the parties and only a counting agent can request a recount,” the release stated.

The RO received eight requests for a general recount from ANUG, CG, LJP, OVP, PPP, PRP, TCI, and TNM.

Roxanne Smith, RO of District 2 received requests for limited recounts from the APNU+AFC. She denied the request since there was no legal basis.

Mohanlall Jagdeo, RO for District 3, received requests for a general recount from APNU+AFC but denied the request since the duly appointed candidate was not present at the time of the count. The person who requested the recount is not the statutory person to do so.

District 5 Returning Officer Lakeram Pancham received a request for a general recount from APNU+AFC and while the recount was started it was subsequently withdrawn.

Savitri Mangar, RO District 6 received a request for a general recount from the APNU+AFC. This recount has been suspended until further notice because the PPP has refused to open its lock on the container to retrieve blank SOPs. The APNU/AFC has not agreed to recount without new blank SOPs.