The AFC has been vigorously arguing for a Region 10 (Upper Demerar/Berbice) seat allocated to the PPP/C claiming that it obtained more votes in that region and has taken the matter to court.

But PPP General Secretary, Mr. Donald Ramotar, at a news conference at the party’s Freedom House headquarters Friday, refuted this claim by the AFC and pointed out that the records will show that the PPP/C had more votes than the AFC.

“We have noted that this matter has been taken to court and we are looking forward to our day in court,” Ramotar told reporters.

“For the AFC and some other band-waggoners to claim that they are entitled to the seat after such a long lapse must be treated with more than a grain of salt,” he argued.

Ramotar also said his party rejected the position that some of the ballot boxes were not counted when the declaration was made.

“Over the past few weeks reports have been appearing in the press that suggest that the AFC has gotten more votes than the PPP/C in Region 10; the PPP has been examining that claim and we have seen evidence that suggest that that is not the case,” he declared.

“We are of the view that the PPP/C has received more votes than the AFC in that region and our position is based on our records and on the official reports given to GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) by its staff in Region 10,” Ramotar added.

He noted that the results of the elections in Region 10 were declared by the Clerk on behalf of the Returning Officer, who was ill at that time.

That declaration showed that the AFC received 3,166 votes and the PPP/C obtained 3,189 votes. Ramotar said this declaration was signed off by GECOM and all the Counting Agents of the political parties who were present at the time.

It was on this basis that the Chief Election Officer made his oral declaration on August 31, 2006, he said.

He noted that the Returning Officer on resuming her duties made another declaration which showed that the AFC got 3,188 votes and the PPP/C received 3,273 votes.

During the first week of September the CEO wrote each contesting party informing them of the results and requested those parties that won seats to extract names from their respective lists for Parliament and for the Regional Democratic Councils.