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

United States Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced Wednesday the U.S.  will be revoking the visas of individuals “responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Guyana” in the South American nation’s recent presidential election.  The U.S.  joins the Organization of American States (OAS) and The  Caribbean Community (CARICOM)  in calling on  Guyana’s elections commission to declare opposition candidate Irfaan Ali as the winner of March’s disputed vote and for incumbent President David Granger to step down. 

“Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on individuals who have been responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Guyana.  Immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.  The Granger Government must respect the result of democratic elections and step aside.”

–Secretary of State Michael Pompeo

The U.S. Secretary of State said the events following the March 2 elections indicate that there are “forces that have repeatedly refused to accept the will of the people at the ballot box.”  Pompeo made it clear that the U.S.. action is not about “interference”  but  to send a clear message of “the consequences of subverting democracy and the rule of law, which poses a danger to us and our hemispheric partners.”

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times /  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  briefs reporters
at Department of State headquarters in Washington D.C. 

“I hope that Guyana’s leaders understand what is at stake if they continue down this path” –  Pompeo. 

CARICOM and the OAS,  which sent observers to oversee the national recount of all votes cast on March 2, have called for the elections results to be declared using the recount results. Several other countries have also called for an end of the over 100-day process. The national vote recount shows that the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the elections by 15,416 votes.

“A credible conclusion of the 2020 elections is essential if Guyana is to remain a democracy. The OAS will continue to support the efforts of the people of Guyana towards this end.” -OAS

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)

THE CURSE  OF OIL 

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.