Norway calls for recount to be used for declaration of elections result

Norway’s Ambassador to Guyana, Nils Martin Gunneng yesterday joined the call for the national recount of votes to be used for the declaration of the result from the controversy-laden March 2nd general elections.

In a tweet yesterday, Gunneng, who is also accredited to Brazil and Suriname, said ”#Norway joins the call for a fair and transparent conclusion of the #GuyanaElections. The declaration of the election result must be based on the national recount, as witnessed by the @CARICOMorg.” Norway’s call is significant as it has been engaged with Guyana since 2009 on a forest protection deal. This deal was potentially worth US$250m over five years and a significant tranche of that sum has

Nils Martin Gunneng

been set aside for green energy use. Unused monies cannot be accessed, however, until a new government is in place.

In recent days, GECOM and the Guyana Government have come under increasing pressure to utilize the results of the 33-day recount of votes as the basis for the declaration of the result. Statements to this effect have come from the Organisation of American States, CARICOM, the US, the UK, Canada, the European Union and the Commonwealth.

The calls have come following the shocking submission on Tuesday of a report by the Chief

Election Officer Keith Lowenfield where he lopped off over 115,000 votes which he claims were not validly cast. The unprecedented report has stirred consternation.