Mottley: Regional team to supervise recount in Guyana

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is sending an independent high-level team to supervise the recounting of the ballots in Guyana.

The South American country held its general and regional elections on March 2, but a winner is yet to be announced, and the process was also tied up in the High Court.

CARICOM chairman Mia Mottley said the team would be led by Francine Baron, former Attorney General and Foreign Minister and will have representatives from Grenada, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

The statement follows in full:

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

Many of you are aware that I led a high-level team of Caribbean Prime Ministers to Georgetown earlier this week to meet with all of the affected parties from the recent General Election of March 2, 2020.

CARICOM has remained engaged over the last few days.

I would wish to announce that after discussions this morning, President Granger made a request for the Caribbean Community to field an independent high-level team to supervise the re-counting of the ballots in all Regions, in accordance with the ruling of the Chief Justice of 11 March, 2020.  This has been agreed to by Mr Bharrat Jagdeo.

We believe that this is a giant step in being able to determine the will of the Guyanese people in the Election of March 2, 2020.  It will also allow the electoral process to regain the confidence of all locally, regionally and internationally.

I have spoken directly to both the President and the Leader of the Opposition and they have both committed to abide by the results of a fair and transparent recount of each and every ballot, as supervised by the CARICOM team.  We also agreed that there needs to be steps taken to secure the integrity of the ballot boxes until the recount takes place.

The Independent High Level Team will be chaired by Francine Baron, former Attorney General and Foreign Minister and comprise Mr Anthony Boatswain, former Minister of Finance of Grenada and Ms Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer in Department of Government of UWI.  They will also be accompanied by two electoral officials from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. 

Both President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Jagdeo have agreed that the recount should commence once the CARICOM team is on the ground.

I can confirm that all efforts are being made to have the team in Guyana as soon as possible.  A further announcement will be made as to the exact details once the team is on the ground. (PR/SAT)