No need to manipulate the system’ …GECOM chair distances self from dubious tape recording

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh has denied knowledge of a conversation caught on tape with an officer of the commission and categorically stated that there is no need for her to manipulate the system to declare any party a winner.

In a statement Friday Justice Singh said it has been brought to her attention that there is in circulation a purported recorded conversation between her and GECOM’s Information Technology Manager, Mr. Aneal Giddings along with several allegations of a plan to manipulate systems to ensure a certain party is declared the winner of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“In this regard, I wish to emphatically state that I do not have knowledge of any such conversation nor am I involved in any plot to ensure any particular party is declared the winner of the 2020 elections,” Justice Singh said. She said there has been a transparent process to count the votes and the legal process has taken its course. “There is absolutely no need for manipulation. The circulation of such recording and peddling of those allegations are designed to create mischief in an already tensed and charged political environment. Those responsible for such unlawful actions are urged to desist from doing so immediately to ensure an environment of trust, peace and stability,” Justice Singh said.

Earlier on Friday the Office of the Prime Minister repelled the attacks on the GECOM which started Thursday. “It was brought to the attention of the Office of the Prime Minister that unnamed persons were posting on social media defamatory statements against certain high-placed elections officials. This is character assassination, or mudslinging. OPM urges those involved to stop it!”

OPM said it was pleased that an outlet styled Guyana News Network (GNN) has distanced itself from one such attack that was made against the Chairman of the Elections Commission. “Though Guyana has been going through a tough political period, all credit goes to our people for keeping the peace and remaining calm. We must reject fake news, rumours and personal threats, and stop sharing them,” the statement read.