GPSU elections
…results released with SOPs
He has been at the helm of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) for a staggering 30 years. But some members of the Union have had enough and have called for public servants to reject any continuation of the 72-year-old Patrick Yarde’s presidency at GPSU.
On Tuesday, the GPSU released what it referred to as the results of its General Elections for office bearers. It showed Yarde as having received 1024 votes, while Gaspar, who was named twice, received a total of 1318. The document was signed by Elections Officer Herman DeSouza.
However, the release took members of the Union by surprise and a faction calling itself “Team Change” called a press conference on Tuesday evening at the Demerara Cricket Ground.
While there was no indication or declaration in the election results release that Yarde or anyone was the official winner, the group’s concern was prompted by an article appearing on a local online news website, which had declared Yarde the winner.
Once there, the members questioned the credibility of the release and the fact that the boxes were still being guarded and have not been opened. In fact, members related that they have been sleeping at the GPSU headquarters.
According to union member Jermaine Hermanstyne, it would “be a miracle” for the official results to declare Yarde as the winner. He stated that based on the numbers which the group had in its possession, Yarde’s most vocal rival, Gregory Gaspar was leading.
“And there is no way that the out-of-town votes, taking into consideration our people calling and telling us the numbers and the voting population, could turn around the numbers. It makes no sense and it defies logic,” Hermanstyne said.
According to vice presidential contender Gordon Nestor, there is no document such as a statement of polls or a voters list that would validate a Patrick Yarde victory.
“Mathematically, it is impossible that Patrick Yarde and his crew can come up with the balance of votes outside of Georgetown. Three quarters of the public service lies within the urban areas of Georgetown. I don’t know who did the Maths, but it’s totally impossible.”
Contentious election
There was drama at the GPSU elections on Saturday as Police had to be called in over the refusal of election officials to provide the voters list to supporters of Gaspar and other members.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Elections Officer Herman DeSouza, Gaspar had complained that the list was requested on April 23, 26, 27, 28 and 29, but was never provided. In the letter, he also complained about ballot boxes being delivered without the elections or assistant elections officers present.
The letter also raised the issue of no statement of polls for outlying regions such as Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) being made available to members.
Gaspar had also expressed concern about the condition in which some of the boxes arrived. In his letter, Gaspar referenced a Region Three ballot box which he stated was allegedly tampered with. He said that allegations that votes from non-eligible voters were placed in the box should be reviewed before finalising the elections.
He stated that in one case four ballot boxes from Linden, Region 10 arrived with three seals broken. Gaspar related that he approached the Elections Officer earlier, but was told that they were given three seals for each box.
