Capt.Gerry Gouveia Wings Just Got Clip
Updated: Sep 21, 2020
Questioning Gerry Gouveia’s role as Chairman of the Private Sector Commission By Beni Sankar.
Recently Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Gerry Gouveia took the Commission into the political arena.
For starters, like any stakeholder in the elections process, the PSC applied for and was granted observer status.
Gouveia was more than an observer. He became the transport officer for the diplomats stationed in Guyana.
When the results of those elections were announced Gouveia, like the opposition forces in Guyana and the diplomats of the ABCE countries, claimed that the results for District Four lacked transparency and credibility.
The matter was taken to court and in the end, a final decision was taken. But even before President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo agreed for a recount of all ten regions.
They agreed that Caricom would have a supervisory role in the recount.
Soon after, Gouveia decided to write to a number of foreign organizations seeking to have them influence the outcome of the recount. One letter was sent to the Organisation of the American States which had fielded an observer team.
That letter was sent on behalf of the PSC but many in the PSC said that they were not consulted or shown the letter before it was sent.
The letter which was published in the local media echoed the sentiments of the People’s Progressive Party. Although the opposition agreed to a total recount Gouveia like the opposition members wanted a recount of District Four (Region Four) alone.
This did not make sense as there would have been a lot of uncertainty about the result.
GECOM based on the ruling of the courts agreed to a total recount and that the recount would be done in chronological order starting with Region One.
Again Gouveia, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the PSC, said that there was no need to count the other votes since there were no objections, which is not true.
The coalition had sought recounts in four regions—Region One, Region Five, Region Six, and Region Three. None was allowed.
Based on the information provided by the Commissioners the Chief Elections Officer produced a timetable that would see the recount taking 156 days. This is still to be discussed by the commission.
But Gouveia, like the mouthpiece of the political opposition, criticized the duration of the recount.
The opposition on its own did not voice an objection, publicly, but Gouveia made the opposition voice heard by writing on behalf of the PSC criticizing the recount.
Guyana is in gridlock over the elections. Every Guyanese, moreso the business community, wants to see the results declared and the matter put to rest once and for all.
To limit the recount as Gouveia is advocating would not put the issue to rest. Why is he opposed to the total recount? He must have a reason. And his reason probably coincides with the opposition which also does not want a total recount but cannot object publicly because Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the PPP, agreed to it. Gouveia has split the PSC, unnecessarily. A total recount is the only solution.
Beni Sankar Former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission
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