Elections in Guyana has changed as much as the various rulers we have had. There have been many systems introduced, abolished and amended. Currently, Guyana uses the Proportional Representation system. Guyana has a rich history of elections, which has adapted and changed over the years. The main participants on Guyana’s Political landscape were the People’s Progressive Party, later People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) and later A Partnership for National Unity.
General Elections Results in Regions 1-10 (1953-2020)
Ballot box – Image Source: https://www.needpix.com/photo/101360/ballot-vote-yes-election-choice-envelope
General Elections – 1953
General elections were held on 27th April, 1953 in British Guiana. This was the first election held under universal suffrage which gives the right of voting to all adult citizens, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, wealth, income, social status and any other restrictions. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) contested in twenty-two (22)of twenty-four (24) constituencies while the National Democratic Party contested in fifteen (15). The People’s National Party contested in eight (8) constituencies. Eighty-five (85) independents contest the elections as well. The United Workers and Farmers ran as a party but still competed for some seats as independents.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) won the 1953 General Elections and eighteen (18) of the available twenty-four (24) seats in the House of Assembly. The leader of the party Mr. Cheddi Jagan became the Prime Minister, the highest position then available.
Results of Guyana’s 1953 General Elections
This table is sourced from Election Results (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_British_Guiana_general_election)
YEAR: 1953 Party Votes Percentage % Seats People’s Progressive Party 77,695 51.04 18 National Democratic Party 20,032 13.16 2 People’s National Party 3,000 1.97 0 Independents 51,504 33.83 4 Invalid/blank votes 3,995 – – Total 156,226 100 24 Registered voters/turnout 208,939 74.77 –
General Elections – 1957
In British Guiana, General Elections were held on 12th August 1957. This election was contested by fifty-five (55) candidates, including six (6) independents. The only party that had run a candidate in every single Legislature Council seat was the two factions of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), both contested thirteen (13) seats. The Guiana National Party contested one seat while the United Democratic Party, eight.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was victorious in the 1957 General Election, still led by Cheddi Jagan, who remained the Prime Minister. After the elections, the Burnhamite faction of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) merged with the United Democratic Party (UDP) to form the People’s National Congress (PNC).
Results of Guyana’s 1957 General Elections
This table is sourced from Election Results (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957_British_Guiana_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s Progressive Party (Jaganite) | 55,552 | 47.50 | 9 | –6 |
| People’s Progressive Party (Burnhamite) | 29,802 | 25.48 | 3 | |
| National Labour Front | 13,465 | 11.51 | 1 | New |
| United Democratic Party | 9,564 | 8,18 | 1 | New |
| Guiana National Party | 199 | 0.17 | 0 | – |
| Independents | 8,357 | 7.15 | 0 | –4 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,625 | – | – | – |
| Total | 118,564 | 100 | 14 | –10 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 212,518 | 55.79 | – | – |
General Elections – 1961
General elections were held in British Guiana on 21st August 1961. It was the first to be held under the 1961 constitution that created a Legislature with two chambers, an appointed Senate and an elected Legislative Assembly. Thirty-five (35) members of the Legislative Assembly were elected in single-member constituencies while the Speaker was elected by other members. There were thirteen members of the Senate which included eight (8) nominated by the ruling party, three members by the opposition and only two, by the Governor. A total of ninety-eight candidates contested the elections, of which twenty-nine (29) were the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), thirty-four of The United Force (TUF) and thirty-five (35) from the People’s National Congress.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was victorious in the 1961 General Election. Even though they received only one point six (1.6) percent more votes that the People’s National Congress, the PPP won almost double the number of seats.
After the elections, one Senate seat for the opposition was given to The United Force and two to the People’s National Congress. The PNC claimed all three seats and tried to stop Governor Richard Luyt from entering the Legislature for its ceremonial opening on 6 October, 1961. They were consequently removed by the police. Allegedly, the People’s National Congress (PNC) led mass demonstration against the PPP being in government, which started a general strike then inter-racial violence. British authorities intervened in this panic while the Governor declared a state of emergency.
It was after these events in 1961 which caused the change in the country’s electoral system to the Proportional Representation system.
Results of Guyana’s 1961 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 1961 (https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093639/http://www.gecom.org.gy/pdf/elections%20results%201961.pdf)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s Progressive Party | 93,085 | 42.63 | 20 | +11 |
| People’s National Congress | 89,501 | 40.99 | 11 | +7 |
| United Force | 35,771 | 16.38 | 4 | New |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,768 | – | – | – |
| Total | 220,125 | 100 | 35 | +21 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 246,120 | 89.44 | – | – |
General Elections – 1964
On 7th December, 1964 General Elections were once again held in British Guiana. After the elections, there were constitutional reforms and the House of Assembly was again established and replaced the bicameral Legislature (with two chambers). The House of Assembly had fifty-four (54) members, fifty-three (53) which were elected by the Proportional Representation System and the fifty-fourth, the Speaker, was elected by the originally elected members, who later give up their seats to members of their own parties.
There was a ninety-seven percent of Voters Turnout. The People’s Progressive Party won twenty-four (24) of fifty-three (53) seats. The PNC received twenty-two (22) seats and The United Force, seven (7). A coalition formed between the People’s National Congress and The United Force allowed them to go into government. Cheddi Jagan refused to step down as Prime Minister but was removed by Governor Richard Luyt, and replaced by Forbes Burnham.
The People’s National Congress (PNC) won the general elections in 1964, after forming a coalition with The United Force (TUF).
Results of Guyana’s 1964 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 1964 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_British_Guiana_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s Progressive Party | 109,332 | 45.8 | 24 | +4 |
| People’s National Congress | 96,657 | 40.5 | 22 | +11 |
| United Force | 29,612 | 12.4 | 7 | +3 |
| Justice Party | 1,334 | 0.6 | 0 | New |
| Guiana United Muslim Party | 1,194 | 0.5 | 0 | New |
| Peace, Equality and Prosperity Party | 224 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| National Labour Front | 177 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,590 | – | – | – |
| Total | 240,120 | 100 | 53 | +18 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 247,604 | 97.0 | – |
General Elections – 1968
General Elections were held on 16th December, 1968. The People’s National Congress (PNC), won thirty of fifty-three (53) seats of the eighty-five point one percent (85.1) of Voters Turnout.
The People’s National Congress (PNC) won the general elections in 1968. However, according to Dieter Nohlen (2005, pp.367) since the government had direct control of the elections, the PNC’s victory was fraudulent.
Interesting Tip
- Two documentaries, namely The Trail of the Vanishing Voters which aired on 9 December 1968 and The Making of a Prime Minister which appeared in January 1969 were produced bu the Granada Television, featuring the opposition figures Cheddi Jagan and Peter D’Aguair.
Results of Guyana’s 1968 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 1964 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s National Congress | 174,339 | 55.8 | 30 | +8 |
| People’s Progressive Party | 113,991 | 36.5 | 19 | –5 |
| United Force | 23,162 | 7.4 | 4 | –3 |
| Guiana United Muslim Party | 899 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,855 | – | – | – |
| Total | 314,246 | 100 | 53 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 369,088 | 85.1 | – | – |
General Elections – 1973
General elections were held on 17th July 1973 in Guyana. The People’s National Congress (PNC) won thirty-seven (37) of fifty-three (53) seats of an eighty-one (81) percent of Voters Turnout.
The general elections in 1973 resulted in a win for the People’s National Congress (PNC). Again, according to Dieter Nohlen (2005, pp.363) it is believed the PNC’s win was fraudulent as the government had control of the elections.
Results of Guyana’s 1973 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 1973 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s National Congress | 243,803 | 70.1 | 37 | +7 |
| People’s Progressive Party | 92,374 | 26.6 | 14 | –5 |
| Liberator Party-United Force | 9,580 | 2.8 | 2 | –2 |
| People’s Democratic Movement | 2,053 | 0.6 | 0 | New |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,780 | – | – | – |
| Total | 349,590 | 100 | 53 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 431,575 | 81.0 | – | – |
General Elections – 1980
General elections were held on 15th December, 1980 in Guyana. The People’s National Congress (PNC) won forty-one (41) of fifty-three (53) seats of an eighty-two point three (82.3) percent of Voters Turnout.
The People’s National Congress (PNC People’s National Congress (PNC) won the elections in 1980, the result of fraud according to Dieter Nohlen (2005, pp. 363) because the government still had control of the elections.
Results of Guyana’s 1980 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 1980 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s National Congress | 312,988 | 77.7 | 41 | +4 |
| People’s Progressive Party | 78,414 | 19.5 | 10 | –4 |
| United Force | 11,612 | 2.9 | 2 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 3,251 | – | – | – |
| Total | 406,265 | 100 | 53 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 493,550 | 82.3 | – | – |
General Elections – 1985
Guyana’s general elections were held on 9th December, 1985. The People’s National Congress (PNC) won forty-two (42) of fifty-three (53) seats of a seventy-three point eight (73.8) percent of Voters Turnout. The People’s Progressive Party and the Working People’ Alliance withdrew on election day because the elections were marred as fraudulent, according to Dieter Nohlen (2005, pp. 363).
Results of Guyana’s 1985 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 1985 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s National Congress | 228,718 | 78.5 | 42 | +1 |
| People’s Progressive Party | 45,926 | 15.8 | 8 | –2 |
| United Force | 9,820 | 3.4 | 2 | 0 |
| Working People’s Alliance | 4,176 | 1.4 | 1 | New |
| Democratic Labour Movement | 2,167 | 0.7 | 0 | New |
| People’s Democratic Movement | 232 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| National Democratic Front | 156 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| Invalid/blank votes | 3,606 | – | – | – |
| Total | 294,801 | 100 | 53 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 399,304 | 73.8 | – | – |
General Elections – 1992
In Guyana, General Elections were held on 5th October 1992. The general elections held in 1992 were said to be the first free and fair elections held since the year 1962. The People’s National Congress’s reign was ended after twenty-eight (28) years. The People’s Progressive Party won twenty-eight (28) of the fifty-three (53) seats and fifty-three point five (53.5) percent of the votes with Voter turnout at eighty point four (80.4) percent.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was victorious in the 1992 General Election.
Results of Guyana’s 1992 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 1992(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s Progressive Party | 162,058 | 53.5 | 28 | +20 |
| People’s National Congress | 128,286 | 42.3 | 23 | –19 |
| Working People’s Alliance | 6,086 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 |
| United Force | 3,183 | 1.0 | 1 | –1 |
| Democratic Labour Movement | 1,557 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| United Republican Party | 1,343 | 0.4 | 0 | New |
| People’s Democratic Movement | 270 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| Union of Guyanese International | 134 | 0.0 | 0 | New |
| National Republican Party | 114 | 0.0 | 0 | New |
| United Workers Party | 77 | 0.0 | 0 | New |
| National Democratic Front | 68 | 0.0 | 0 | New |
| Invalid/blank votes | 5,666 | – | – | – |
| Total | 308,852 | 100 | 53 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 348,195 | 88.7 | – | – |
Map of Guyana showing Results Distribution of 1992 General Elections in the 10 Administrative Region of Guyana – Image By: FelipeRev – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80526731
General Elections – 1997
General elections were held in Guyana on 15th December 1997. The People’s Progressive Party won twenty-nine (29) of the fifty-three (53) seats with an eighty-eight point four (88.4) percent of Voter turnout.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was victorious yet again in the 1997 General Election.
Results of Guyana’s 1997 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 1992 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s Progressive Party | 220,667 | 55.3 | 29 | +1 |
| People’s National Congress | 161,901 | 40.5 | 22 | –1 |
| United Force | 5,937 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Working People’s Alliance–Guyana Labour Party | 4,783 | 1.2 | 1 | 0 |
| Guyana Democratic Party | 2,528 | 0.6 | 0 | New |
| Good and Green Guyana | 1,552 | 0.4 | 0 | New |
| Justice for All Party | 1,265 | 0.3 | 0 | New |
| God Bless Guyana | 314 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| National Independent Party | 258 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| National Democratic Front | 105 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 8,747 | – | – | – |
| Total | 408,057 | 100 | 53 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 461,481 | 88.4 | – | – |
Map of Guyana showing Results Distribution of 1997 General Elections in the 10 Administrative Region of Guyana – Image By: By FelipeRev – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80521428
General Elections – 2001
In Guyana, general elections were held on 19th March 2001. The People’s Progressive Party was awarded thirty-four (34) of the now sixty-five (65) seats in Parliament while Voter turnout was ninety-one point seven (91.7) percent.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) won the 2001 General Election.
Distribution of the National Assembly’s seats -By Prez001 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12722597
Results of Guyana’s 2001 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 2001 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People’s Progressive Party | 210,013 | 53.0 | 34 | +5 |
| People’s National Congress | 165,866 | 41.8 | 27 | +5 |
| Guyana Action Party–Working People’s Alliance | 9,451 | 2.4 | 2 | +1 |
| Rise Organise and Rebuild Guyana | 3,695 | 0.9 | 1 | New |
| United Force | 2,904 | 0.7 | 1 | 0 |
| Justice for All Party | 2,825 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Guyana Democratic Party | 1,345 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| National Front Alliance | 417 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| Invalid/blank votes | 7,218 | – | – | – |
| Total | 403,734 | 100 | 65 | +12 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 440,185 | 91.7 | – | – |
Map of Guyana showing Results of 2001 General Elections in the 10 Administrative Region of Guyana – Image By: FelipeRev – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80752840
General Elections – 2006
General elections were held in Guyana on 28th August 2006. They were formerly set for 4th August, 2006 but President Bharrat Jagdeo dissolved the National Assembly on 2nd May. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won thirty-six (36) of sixty-five (65) seats in the National Assembly. The sixty-five (65) members of the National Assembly were elected by closed list Proportional Representation in two groups. Twenty five members were elected from the ten (10) electoral district (Administrative Regions) of Guyana, with forty (40) from the nationwide constituency. The leader of the party with the most seats, automatically became the president of Guyana.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) once again won the 2006 General Election.
Election Day was declared to be a national holiday and polling places were open from 06:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs, with a total of one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine polling places in Guyana.
Results of Guyana’s 2006 General Elections
This table is sourced from General Election Results 2006 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constituency | Top-up | Total | +/– | |||
| People’s Progressive Party/Civic | 183,887 | 54.6 | 15 | 21 | 36 | +2 |
| People’s National Congress | 114,608 | 34.0 | 9 | 13 | 22 | –5 |
| Alliance for Change | 28,366 | 8.4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | New |
| Guyana Action Party–ROAR | 4,249 | 1.2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | –2 |
| The United Force | 2,864 | 0.8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Justice for All Party | 2,571 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 5,051 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 341,426 | 100 | 25 | 40 | 65 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 492,369 | 69.3 | – | – | – | – |
Map of Guyana showing Results Distribution of 2006 General Elections in the 10 Administrative Region of Guyana – Image By: By FelipeRev – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80752836
General Elections – 2011
On 28th November, 2011 general elections were held in Guyana. The candidate of the party with the largest number of seats became the President. The People’s Progressive Party won thirty-two (32) of sixty-five (65) seats. Donald Ramotar was nominated by the PPP and party’s general secretary and advisor Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo. A Partnership for National Unity, an alliance of People’s National Congress, the Guyana Action Party and the Working People’s Alliance nominated David A. Granger formerly a commander to the Guyana Defence Force. Even though APNU had a majority of seats thirty-three (33) in total, they did not run as a single list so PPP/C’s Donald Ramotar became the President of Guyana,
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) won the 2011 General Elections.
Results of Guyana’s 2011 General Elections
This table is sourced from Election Results (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constituency | Top-up | Total | +/– | |||
| People’s Progressive Party | 166,340 | 48.60 | 13 | 19 | 32 | –4 |
| A Partnership for National Unity | 139,678 | 40.81 | 10 | 16 | 26 | +3 |
| Alliance for Change | 35,333 | 10.32 | 2 | 5 | 7 | +2 |
| The United Force | 885 | 0.26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –1 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 4,481 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 346,717 | 100 | 25 | 40 | 65 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 475,496 | 72.92 | – | – | – | – |
Distribution of the National Assembly’s seats -By Prez001 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12722597
General Elections – 2015
General elections were held on 11th May, 2015, before the usual five-year term was up. This early election happened as a result of a No-Confidence Motion in the National Assembly because President Donald Ramotar refused spending cuts they imposed. The National Assembly was dissolved in November 2014 by Ramotar, and dissolved three months later. The election date for 2015 was announced by President Ramotar on 20th January, 2015.
The APNU-Alliance for Change alliance won the 2015 general elections in Guyana. They won thirty -three id the sixty-five (65) seats in the National Assembly and leader of APNU David Arthur Granger was sworn in on 16th May, 2015 as the new President of Guyana
Results of Guyana’s 2015 General Elections
This table is sourced from Election Results (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APNU–Alliance for Change | 207,201 | 50.30 | 33 | 0 |
| People’s Progressive Party | 202,656 | 49.19 | 32 | 0 |
| The United Force | 1,099 | 0.27 | 0 | 0 |
| United Republican Party | 418 | 0.10 | 0 | New |
| Independent Party | 342 | 0.08 | 0 | New |
| National Independent Party | 254 | 0.06 | 0 | New |
| Invalid/blank votes | 4,000 | – | – | – |
| Total | 415,970 | 100 | 65 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 585,727 | 71.02 | – | – |
General Elections – 2020
General Elections in Guyana were held on 2nd March, 2020 This was the result of a No-Confidence motion passed in Parliament 21st December, 2018. Attorney General Basil Williams argued that this motion was invalid since the majority of 65 seats should be thirty-four (34), instead of (33). The opposition People’s Progressive Civic (PPP/C) appealed to the Caribbean Court of Justice. Their ruling that the no-confidence vote was valid was the final ruling on the matter because the irregularity had not been taken up with the proper bodies within the designated timeframe following the 2015 elections.
After the no-confidence motion was passed the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) stated that elections could not be organized by mid-March in such a short period, and so elections were delayed. On 25th September, 2019 President Granger announced that the elections would be held on 2nd March 2020.
On 2nd March, 2020 Guyanese citizens went to vote in what might have been the biggest election ever held in Guyana. International bodies including the European Union, Organization of Caribbean State, The Carter Centre, CARICOM, and the Commonwealth came to Guyana to witness the election. After many delays and complications, GECOM was ready to declare the winner of the 2020 Election, these bodies have cast suspicions on the counting process of GECOM.
The PPP/C filed an injunction, stopping the Regional Officer of Region Four from declaring the supposedly unverified result. Both major parties then agreed on a recount supervised by CARICOM. However, another injunction was filed to stop this recount process.
As of 25th March, 2020 two weeks after elections was held, no final, verified result for Guyana’s General and Regional Elections is declared while both APNU and PPP/C claims the victory of our 2020 General Elections. This has left the country with high levels of tension amid the impending threat Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The March 2nd, 2020 Elections in Guyana is perhaps the largest election that ever occurred in the country. There were many forces at work and so the results were not declared as expected. Some Guyanese have since speculated whether the first case of Covid-19 in Guyana was a tactic to prolong the verified declaration of the March 2nd Elections. Ratna Baboolal of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara was diagnosed with and Covid-19 in early March which caused panic and thus the nationwide shutdown began. As of 15th June, over three months of the incumbent APNU-AFC government, there is no public declaration by GECOM of the verified results of March 2020 Elections.
While the delays in the count may be attributed to the Coronavirus (Covid-19), there were many inconsistencies with the tabulation and Statement of Polls (SOPs). The first of which was on a bomb scare at the office of Region Four’s Returning Officer (RO) on the 5th March 2020. This caused the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to put a halt to their counting process. However, when the bomb squad division of the Guyana Police Force and the Fire Service arrived, nothing suspicious was reported and so the counting process continued. In the same very month of March, the APNU-AFC Coalition declared themselves the winner of the March 2nd 2020 elections, without the GECOM Guyana Elections Commission having released the results. Not too long after the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) too declared themselves the winner. However, the APNU-AFC produced no SOP to back their statements and was reputed by several parties which contested the Elections.
Mingo’s Spreadsheet
The Regional Officer of Region Clairmont Mingo allegedly created a spreadsheet with the results of the 2020 elections and attempted the declare the APNU-AFC as the winner with some fraudulent votes. His results reflected A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) gained 136,057 whereas the correct number is 116,941. According to Mingo’s tabulation the PPP/C got 77,231 votes when their total was in fact 80,920 votes Clairmont Mingo allegedly inflated the Coalition’s Region Four total by 19,116 votes. Soon after this unverified declaration this Mingo was seen escorted away from the scene.
With Mingo’s number, there was an attempt to Swear in former President David Granger, however, this was avoided with the threats of sanction. In response, a private citizen by the name of Reaz Holladar filed an injunction against this declaration on the basis that the GECOM body did not follow the required laws before a declaration. The matter was taken to court where Judge Roxane George ruled that a partial recount was to be done and the winner not to be declared until the recount is completed. Regardless, on 12th March as the counting process resumed, Mingo once again attempted to read the results from the spreadsheet and declared unverified and fraudulent results.
Comparion of Mingo’s Numbers and the Results of the National Recount – Image Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/images/2020/06/Mingo-chart.png
On the Road to Recount
Guyana was threatened to be blacklisted as many of the International Observers like CARICOM, the Carter Center, Organisation of American States (OAS) and many more refuted the APNU-AFC Coalition winning the election. The OAS went on to say that the irregularities occurred not in the voting but the tabulation process of GECOM. CARICOM among other bodies intervened and a recount was agreed by the APNU-AFC and the PPC. Thus, amid the confusion of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the National Recount of the 2020 Elections started on 6th May, 2020 after some fifty-four days of delay.
There were several more hiccups, that frustrated the recount progress and the citizens of Guyana alike. GECOM publicly stated that there were migrant voters and phantom voting. However, many persons who were said to be deceased by GECOM were taken to social media to prove that they were very much alive and well. GECOM disregarded the statements of these living persons and insisted they were dead.
The small Parties were a force to reckon with in this election and bravely protected the democracy of a country left helpless by corruption. The parties were A New and United Guyana (ANUG), the United Republican Party (URP), Change Guyana, the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and the People’s Republic Party (PRP) The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), The New Movement (TNM) who all contested the March 2nd 2020, Elections.
Results of the Recount of March 2nd Elections
The National Recount, overseen by the OAS and CARICOM showed the PPP/C won the March 2020 Elections. The APNU-AFC Coalition then went on to accuse the PPP of rigging the elections, while the National Recount process was overseen by the respective, international bodies.
Results of Guyana’s 2020 General Elections
This table is sourced from Election Results (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Guyanese_general_election)
| Party | Initial results | Recount | Seats | +/– | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||||
| People’s Progressive Party | 229,481 | 48.26 | 233,336 | 50.69 | 33 | +1 | |
| APNU–AFC | 236,928 | 49.82 | 217,920 | 47.34 | 31 | –2 | |
| Liberty and Justice Party | 2,667 | 0.56 | 2,657 | 0.58 | 1 | New | |
| A New and United Guyana | 2,286 | 0.48 | 2,313 | 0.50 | New | ||
| The New Movement | 227 | 0.05 | 244 | 0.05 | New | ||
| Change Guyana | 2,030 | 0.43 | 1,953 | 0.42 | 0 | New | |
| People’s Republic Party | 864 | 0.18 | 889 | 0.19 | 0 | New | |
| The Citizenship Initiative | 680 | 0.14 | 680 | 0.15 | 0 | New | |
| United Republican Party | 393 | 0.08 | 360 | 0.08 | 0 | 0 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 3,897 | – | 4,211 | – | – | – | |
| Total | 479,453 | 100 | 464,563 | 100 | 65 | 0 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 661,378 | 72.49 | 661,378 | 70.24 | – | – | |
Results of the Recount of March 2nd Elections By Region
This table is sourced from The Citizenship Initiative (https://guyanaresults.com/)
| Region | APNU–AFC | PPP | LJP | ANUG | TNM | LJP+ANUG+TNM[63] | Hare quota |
Total votes |
Total seats |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Seats | ||||
| Barima-Waini | 3,909 | 32.28 | 1 | 8,002 | 66.07 | 1 | 170 | 1.40 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 170 | 1.40 | 0 | 6056 | 12,111 | 2 |
| Pomeroon-Supenaam | 7,340 | 27.57 | 1 | 18,785 | 70.56 | 1 | 121 | 0.45 | 85 | 0.32 | 0 | – | 206 | 0.77 | 0 | 13311 | 26,621 | 2 |
| Essequibo Islands-West Demerara | 23,808 | 32.80 | 1 | 47,851 | 65.92 | 2 | 0 | – | 302 | 0.42 | 56 | 0.08 | 358 | 0.49 | 0 | 24197 | 72,592 | 3 |
| Demerara-Mahaica | 116,941 | 57.87 | 4 | 80,920 | 40.04 | 3 | 755 | 0.37 | 1426 | 0.71 | 135 | 0.07 | 2316 | 1.15 | 0 | 28868 | 202,077 | 7 |
| Mahaica-Berbice | 14,502 | 43.79 | 1 | 18,326 | 55.33 | 1 | 0 | – | 88 | 0.27 | 10 | 0.03 | 98 | 0.30 | 0 | 16560 | 33,119 | 2 |
| East Berbice-Corentyne | 20,399 | 31.59 | 1 | 43,440 | 67.28 | 2 | 0 | – | 164 | 0.25 | 16 | 0.02 | 180 | 0.28 | 0 | 21522 | 64,567 | 3 |
| Cuyuni-Mazaruni | 4,813 | 50.18 | 1 | 3,728 | 38.87 | 1 | 884 | 9.22 | 77 | 0.80 | 0 | – | 961 | 10.02 | 0 | 4796 | 9,592 | 2 |
| Potaro-Siparuni | 2,152 | 46.13 | 1 | 2,052 | 43.99 | 0 | 450 | 9.65 | 0 | – | 11 | 0.24 | 461 | 9.88 | 0 | 4665 | 4,665 | 1 |
| Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo | 4,887 | 39.86 | 0 | 7,070 | 57.66 | 1 | 277 | 2.26 | 0 | – | 0 | – | 277 | 2.26 | 0 | 12261 | 12,261 | 1 |
| Upper Demerara-Berbice | 19,169 | 84.27 | 2 | 3,162 | 13.90 | 0 | 0 | – | 171 | 0.75 | 16 | 0.07 | 187 | 0.82 | 0 | 11374 | 22,747 | 2 |
| Total seats | 217,920 | 47.34 | 31 | 233,336 | 50.69 | 33 | 2657 | 0.58 | 2313 | 0.50 | 244 | 0.05 | 5214 | 1.13 | 1 | 7082 | 460,352 | 65 |
| Regional seats | 13 | 12 | 0 | 25 | ||||||||||||||
| National seats | 18 | 21 | 1 | 40 | ||||||||||||||
On 15th June CARICOM and the Organization of American States (OAS) two of the bodies that oversaw the recount process, released a statement saying the results of Guyana’s March 2020 Elections were credible and nothing is stopping the Chair of Guyana’s Elections Commission, Keith Lowenfield from declaring PPP/c as the verified winner of 2020 elections.
However, the APNU-AFC Coalition claimed the results of the March 2020 elections are not credible, while they allegedly have no SOPs to prove otherwise. On 15th March, Mr. David Granger even spoke of scrapping the election, which is not constitutionally possible, as stated by A New and United Guyana (ANUG), one of the small parties that contested the elections. The Coalition refused to sign the recount certification.
The results of the National Recount shows that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) won the March 2020 Elections in Guyana. Its presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali is set to be Guyana’s new president. As of June 15th 2020, GECOM has not yet declared the credible and verified results of Guyana’s March 2020 Elections.
See CARICOM Report of the National Recount of Guyana’s March 2020 Elections
Results of Guyana’s 2020 General Elections
Following the National Recount of the 2020 Elections, Keith Lowenfield submitted his report with figures that did not reflect the numbers of the National Recount but those of which declared a win for the APNU-AFC Coalition. Shortly after the PPP/C took the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice where it was ruled by the Caribbean Court of Justice that the Results of the National Recount is to be used, thus declaring a win for the PPP/C. Keith Lowenfield once again refused to submit his report using the Recount Figures. The Chairman of GECOM Claudette Singh then stated she will have the DCEO prepare the report if Keith Lowenfield fails to submit his report using the figures of the National Recount. Misenga Jones, a private citizen filed a case against the use of the recount at The Supreme Court Of Judicature, The High Court. The High Court ruled that this was constitutional. This led to an appeal at the Appellate Court which was then thrown out.
After many delays and hiccups, Keith Lowenfield submitted his report using the numbers from the National Recount to the GECOM Chairman Claudette Singh on 2nd August, 2020. Following his submission, Chairman Claudette Singh declared a victory for the People’s Progressive Party and Mr Irfaan Ali was sworn in as Guyana’s 9th President by Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards. President Ifraan Ali then proceeded to appoint members to his Cabinet. Mark Phillips was appointed his Prime Minister; General Secretary of the PPP/C Bharrat Jagdeo as Vice President; Anil Nandlall as his Attorney General and Gail Texeira as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance. The swearing-in of President Irfaan Ali saw many Guyanese celebrating in Guyana particularly in PPP/C predominant areas. A celebration much deserved for democracy has prevailed.
About General Election Results in Guyana
Elections in Guyana have had a wide variety of effects on the Guyanese population, sometimes bringing out the worst in its people. Guyana has always tried to conduct free and fair elections, even though there were several accusations of compromisation. Nevertheless, there have been difficulties and in the future no doubt this will occur again, but we must unite as a nation to overcome these obstacles. After all, we are One People, One Nation, and One Destiny.
Article References
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Last Updated: 03rd August 2020
