GEORGETOWN – High court judge, Franklin Holder, on Friday ruled that he will go ahead with hearing the case about the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) decision to have a national recount of votes in the aftermath of the recent general election.
In court on Friday afternoon, Holder ruled the Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter, throwing out arguments by Attorneys for the leader of the main opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) list of candidates,Bharrat Jagdeo, who argued that the Court did not have jurisdiction.
Holder also dismissed a request by for the Elections Commission to provide all of the statements of poll to the Court, adding that the matter of discovery is best suited for an election petition.
The way has now been cleared for the Judge to hear arguments in the substantive case that was filed by Ulitta Moore – a candidate with the coalition – A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change, who was seeking the Court’s intervention to block a recount of all votes as part of an agreement reached by  President David Granger and the Opposition Leader.
While the case was filed by the APNU+AFC candidate in her private capacity, the APNU+AFC, the PPP/C and a number of other parties have joined the proceedings as interested parties.
Meanwhile, PPP/C Attorney Anil Nandlall told NewsSource Guyana that the matter before the Court questions the decisions of the Guyana Elections Commission and he believes the Act is clear on authority in that instance.
Monday will mark four weeks since Guyanese went to the polls and final results are yet to be declared.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Elections Commission has indicated that it will continue to wait on the Court’s decision before moving ahead.Â
(CMC)
