Credit: Wikipedia Commons /  Data published by Guyana’s elections commission shows that President David Granger lost to opposition candidate Irfaan Ali in a recount of votes of March’s disputed vote. 

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The Organization of American States (OAS) is calling on  Guyana’s elections commission to declare opposition candidate Irfaan Ali as the winner of March’s disputed vote and for President David Granger to step down. The OAS urged  the Guyana government to “to begin the process of transition, which will allow the legitimately elected government to take its place” as the country awaits the official announcement of the winner of the disputed March 2 regional and general election.  Preliminary data published by Guyana’s elections commission shows that Ali has won a recount of votes in March’s presidential election. 

“The Organization of American States (OAS) welcomes the decision of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), on June 16, 2020, to declare the results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections based on the data compiled by the national recount.”

-OAS statement June 16, 2020

Massive Oil Reserves To Increase  Government Income to $120 Billion 

Credit: caribbeannationalweekly.com/  (Left)  Guyana incumbent President David Granger, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC),  and main opposition candidate Irfaan Ali, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

Guyana held its first election since the massive oil find in 2015 on March 2 between  incumbent president  David Granger and challenger Irfaan Ali. There are huge stakes in the election as oil production could reach an estimated 1.2mn bl/d by 2030, increasing government income to $120 Billion over the next decade- a tempting prize in a country ranked as one of the poorest in the Western hemisphere.  Granger is of the People’s National Congress – Reform (PNCR) coalition, and rival Ali of the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP).  The head of Guyana’s Supreme Court ordered a partial recount of votes in the March 2 disputed general election. The opposition accused the government of fraud in favour of incumbent President  Granger.  A judge of the Supreme Court ruled the electoral body should not declare a winner before the recount is finished. The vote will determine who is in power when huge new oil reserves are explored.  Both sides  claimed victory. 

“The OAS looks forward to the formal declaration of the results and the eventual swearing-in of the newly elected government. In this regard the Organization remains available to provide such support that is required, as the new administration addresses the issues and challenges emanating from the 2020 electoral process.”

-OAS