| Elections 2011 had thrown up more twists than the plot of a political thriller.For one, almost 48 hours after the close of polls across the country at 18:00hrs on Monday,China Jerseys, managers of the voting process, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), are to definitely say which party is in the lead.Planes supposed to carry counted ballots and completed Statement of Polls from hinterlands areas were delayed Tuesday due to logistical arrangements. International observers have intimated that the voters’ turnout would be unusually high,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, if not record breaking.There were rumours of stolen ballot boxes,Cheap Baltimore Ravens Jerseys, complaints of the delays in the GECOM announcement and finger-pointing at the incumbent, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). There were phone calls on crowds converging on Georgetown and people being beaten and shot. Nothing panned out, though.As of yesterday, the city remained dead as fearful shoppers and businesses closed early or stayed away altogether. Classrooms remained empty.There were pockets of people gathered around the streets, vociferously discussing the situation.At GECOM’s headquarters in High Street, Kingston, heavily armed police ringed the area, warning reporters Tuesday to not even take photos of the building…“it is not advisable at this time,” one senior officer said.GECOM was busy counting and verifying documents from polling sites.At Freedom House, on Robb Street, the PPP headquarters, the tension was high Tuesday with quite a few of the bodyguards and supporters chewing nails and shifting from leg to leg impatiently.Some were sipping from energy drinks after clocking some extended hours.Senior party officials were up to late yesterday locked in meetings since early Monday.Down at the Alliance For Change (AFC) headquarters in Campbellville, a few persons were gathered in front, also impatiently.There were no signs of either the party’s leaders Raphael Trotman or Presidential Candidate,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Khemraj Ramjattan. They were said to be locked in meetings.The shopping centre of Regent Street and Robb Street were unusually empty.Down at Congress Place, Sophia, headquarters of the People’s National Congress, which makes up a large part of the coalition opposition, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), several cars lined the entrance. Senior officials were also gathered there locked in meetings.The PPP/C, in an unusual move Tuesday, also reportedly asked for recounts in key areas of Region Three and Region Ten.Yesterday, the party announced it was no longer proceeding with the request.President Bharrat Jagdeo, in an emergency press conference, expressed frustration with GECOM sloth, warned that he is very much still in charge of the country and that the security forces stand ready to deal with any situation. As a matter of fact, websites dealing with rumors and inciting violence are being investigated and could face actions, both local and international (United Nations).The four Presidential Candidates- Donald Ramotar,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, David Granger,Cheap Jerseys From China, Khemraj Ramjattan and Peter Persaud- in an unprecedented move, yesterday were part of a joint press conference hosted by GECOM, calling for calm and patience and an acceptance to the results.However, there was generally silence from the parties regarding their performance with Jagdeo making it clear that on Monday night, political parties knew the outcome.The 2011 elections may now become an historic one in many ways. There are already talks that it was one of the most expensive ones.It may very well be the first time since sweeping to office in 1992, that the PPP/C may not grab the majority 51 per cent of the votes, which allows it to control Parliament.Demerara Bank, on Camp Street and Courts Guyana, Main Street, were among several of the business which took precautionary measures barring up their windows as fears of the repeat of the 2001 elections violence resurface. |
