In support of a transparent recount of ballots

Open letter to:

Justice Claudette Singh, Chair of GECOM;

Hon David Granger, Leader of APNU;

Hon Bharrat Jagdeo, Leader of the PPP;

Hon Prime Minister Mia Mottley, CARICOM Chair

We are all proud Guyanese wherever we now live. The tabulation of votes in District Four on March 12/13th was not done in accordance with the law and the direct orders given by the Hon Chief Justice on March 11th. The results for that district have been assessed by all political parties except one, and by all accredited local, regional and international observers who were present, to be less than credible.

The swearing-in of a president based on that declaration of results of the 2020 General and Regional Elections overwhelmingly deemed to be flawed, should not be an option.

We support a full recount of all of the ballots cast in District Four (and all other districts that may have been called for), in a process managed with complete transparency by GECOM and under the scrutiny of agents of the contesting political parties and representatives of local, regional and international observer missions in an environment free of threats, be implemented as soon as possible. We are heartened by the consensus for the CARICOM offer to supervise the Region Four recount. Yours faithfully,

Maj Gen Joseph Singh, former Chair of GECOM Donald Rodney

Dr Ian Macdonald, Writer

Vanda Radzik, Independent Social & Sustainable Development Guyana Adviser

Rev Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, Guyana Presbyterian Church

Jean La Rose

Karen de Souza

Annette Arjoon-Martins, Businesswoman & Environmental Activist

Ohene Koama

Patricia Fredericks, Independent Concerned Citizen

Abbyssinian Carto

Aisha Fraites, Professional & SRHR Advocate Chelsea Fung, RED Entertainment

Saskia Wyngaarde, RED Entertainment

Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, Entrepreneur

Professor Hollis France, University of Charleston John Mair, former BBC Producer

Pauline Melville, Writer - Fellow of Royal Society of Literature

Rohit Kanhai

Professor Clem Seecharan, Emeritus Professor of History, London Metropolitan University

Professor David Dabydeen, Emeritus Professor of Literature, Warwick University

Professor Alissa Trotz, University of Toronto Professor Maya Trotz, University of South Florida Faiyaz Alli, Businessman and social activist

Imran McSood Amjad, ACII, Chartered Insurer Patsy Downey, concerned Guyanese

Simone Mangal-Joly, former elections observer Oscar Ramjeet, Attorney/Journalist

Dr Dave Gobin Singh, GP

Dr Elena A Singh, GP

Dr Ravi Gupta

Dr Melanie Gupta

Sanjay Gupta, Barrister

Roland Rampat, Businessman

Anthony Ramsamooj, General Secretary of CISCA Mohammed Khan, retired Auditor

Dear Editor,

It is with much sadness and disappointment that I read in the Stabroek News about price gouging or inflated prices by pharmacies, supermarkets and general stores for essential hygiene, sanitation and some medical supplies. This response by supermarkets, pharmacies and general stores is selfish and would only bring short-term gain.

This is an opportunity for supermarkets and