By Tracey Khan – Drakes
![British High Commissioner, James Gregory Quinn. [iNews' Photo]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Gregory-Quinn.jpg)
The incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) is alleging that there were hundreds of fake SOPs that were counted which led to the APNU+AFC winning the 2015 elections.
As such, the Party is maintaining that it will not concede defeat in the face of numerous calls by both local and international observers and diplomats for the Party to concede victory to the APNU+AFC coalition.
The British High Commissioner in a statement to iNews noted that “the fact that the Guyana Elections Commission itself found the so-called fake statements of polls and did not include them in the count is encouraging and should be seen in a positive light. This means that GECOM’s systems worked as they were designed to.”
But former President, Bharrat Jagdeo had said that the PPP/C is not giving up just yet, officially adding his voice to the Party’s decision not to concede defeat.
Jagdeo at a press conference on Thursday May 14 provided what he deemed “evidence” that indicates that the elections were rigged in favor of the APNU+AFC coalition.
The undeclared results of the election indicate that the APNU+AFC has managed to acquire 206, 817 votes while the PPP/C has acquired 201,457 votes, which means the coalition won by 5,360 votes.
The results effectively end a 23-year reign by the PPP/C which ascended to office in 1992 under the leadership of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
Several documents were provided by Jagdeo as “evidence”; he explained that they showed “glaring instances” where the figures on the statements of poll in the possession of the PPP/C counting agents do not correlate with the ones in the possession of GECOM.
Chairman of GECOM, Dr. Steve Surujbally said the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) was lauded for finding the anomalies and highlighting them, and therefore he will address and fix them.
He recalled that as the SOPs came in, the Commissioners we were able to pick up that they were fake ones. The SOPs were printed by a Canadian company with a number of security features.
GECOM meanwhile stressed that the fake SOPs were not counted. In addition the media was told that the number of fake SOPs was not of that great quantum so as to disturb the outcome of the election.
Dr Surujbally further questioned what would make a person do such a reprehensible thing, which he stressed will absolutely go nowhere. However, he also accepted that it might go “there where, by those who want to make an issue.”
The Chairman added that given the close race, he can understand the importance being given to the need for checks and balances. And for this he is asking that trust be placed in the CEO to fix the anomalies.
I agree with you BUXTON how MR BRITISH HIGH Commisioner know the fake sop ???what he really went and observed the activities of the people walking around voting or ensure the election was free and fear ??? Why can’t the international obverserver agree to a recount whether it make a different or not the people want it not the PPP , .the PPP represent the majority of guyanese not oversease Guyanese alone
Can we consider that Maybe the PPP did it to compromise the the elections as well? By the way the PPP went into elections mode know very well they could have lost and lets not pretend they are all saints amongst themselves… The only ones with access to the SOP’s before the elections were the commissioners who come from both PPP or Apnu.. lets not discount that both sides are capable of this devious act.
Why can’t the apnu agree to a recount if they know they were honest? What’s in it to fear?
you can see how bias the abc are if there is nothing to fear do a recount and find out the truth if there is nothing wrong declarethe winner then.
GECOM is manifesting the most crystally clear exposition of a stunted democracy. It has stunned the population with its foreign influenced ass-sucking incompetence and failed institutional status.
Direct question to you Mr British High Commisioner.
Is it wrong?
How do you know which SOP’s to count?
Do you have ESP sir?
Why can’t the PPP accept defeat gracefully. It is more than time enough for them to go
As much as I was happy to have a change in government I am very disappointed at these fake SOPs as confirmed by Gecom and the British high commissioner. APNU/AFC this is not a good start. Who would print this without the knowledge of APNU/AFC. The things people do to get power. I feel sorry for the people in our country. way .
If there is evidence then who is to say that the election wasn’t rigged? I will ask the question again and again about the observers. Were they present at all the polling stations from six in the morning to six in the evening? Were all of you there to see the counting process? If not then butt the hell out of our affairs.