COVID-19 task force says no to more recount work stations
The National COVID-19 Taskforce has rejected a request from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to approve additional workstations for the National Recount currently underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
In a letter dated May 28 and signed by Dr. Colin James, coordinator of the Health Emergency Operating Centre (HEOC), the taskforce said that it “cannot concede to the request for the installation and operation of additional workstation and increase in the number of persons to be in the ACCC (Arthur Chung Conference Centre) during the period of Recount.”
The response comes more than a week after a request for an additional two stations was made by GECOM Chair, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh.
The exercise initially commenced on May 6 with ten work stations. A preliminary walk through of the locations saw the HEOC “reluctantly” approving 10 stations. A week and a half later at the request of the Commission a second walk through occurred and two more stations were approved.
GECOM had been seeking six but in making the recommendation for two the task force expressed concern that the tabulation centre was congested and GECOM staff and party agents were not adhering to containment and mitigation measures established by WHO/PAHO.
Yesterday’s letter stressed that while the taskforce was conscious of the nature and scope of activities, at this time the HEOC deliberations arrived at the conclusion that public safety and wellness remains the primary focus to mitigate the negative impact and to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“The National Taskforce HEOC has diligently reviewed its Reports dated 21st April 2020 and 15th May 15, 2020 submitted to your Commission and have determined that it cannot concede to the request for the installation and operation of additional workstation and an increase in the number of persons to be in the ACCC during the period of Recount,” they conclude before explaining that both reports are attached for “ease of reference”. Several opposition parties have claimed that the Taskforce has become a tool of the incumbent.
In a video statement yesterday the presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Irfaan Alli claimed that COVID-19 had been weaponized as a political tool to delay the recount process.
He went on to suggest that the headlines related to the disease are not supported by the statistics released daily.
Several hours later the Ministry of Public Health stated that there were 11 new positive cases. The number of active cases currently stands at 83 with 10% of the 1,559 tested returning positive results.
Two days earlier PPP/C executive member Anil Nandlall claimed that the taskforce was holding GECOM to ransom. He maintained that the taskforce is a political unit which acts on a political agenda which aligns with the interests of its members who are politicians.
“It will never act in a politically impartial manner,” Nandlall contended.