Jagdeo hits back at opposition’s deflections over election rigging

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has dismissed claims by the political opposition that the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is planning to rig the upcoming elections, viewing them with amusement.

Describing these claims as mere opposition “rhetoric,” the Vice President stated that the PPP/C “will win” again because of its progressive work.

“We will win the elections. We’re not predicting a two-thirds majority and all of that. We will win the elections because of our work, because we are approaching Guyana as a national party—the People’s Progressive Party. We are treating all of our people equally, regardless of their race, religion, or gender. We’re making a serious attempt to bridge racial divides in Guyana…. On a daily basis, we do this work because we’re genuine about it, and we want all of our people to progress,” he noted.

He also dismissed the claims of electoral rigging by the PPP/C, pointing out that such actions have historically been associated with the PNC and APNU+AFC in their efforts to retain power.

On that note, he expressed satisfaction that the trial of those allegedly involved in attempting to rig the 2020 elections is finally underway.

He highlighted that this follows the independent International Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and the release of international reports exposing their actions.

“I hope that the people of the country are following in great detail the anatomy of the rigging… how planned or unplanned, clumsy or deliberate it was—you’d make your own judgment.

But there was a serious attempt to rig the elections,” Dr. Jagdeo said during a live press conference on Thursday.

In 2023, a CoI into the election fraud case found that Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, and Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo were all guilty of a conscious, deliberate, and brazen effort to violate provisions of Section 84(1) of the Representation of the People Act.

The inquiry concluded that they had abandoned all principles of neutrality and impartiality, demonstrating bias toward the APNU+AFC.

Their actions showed a clear connection with the Coalition and a deliberate attempt to secure a desired outcome in its favour.