Though there were repeated objections, which caused some party officials to eventually become angry and leave, the tabulation of votes in Region Four during the 2020 General and Regional Elections continued.
In fact, attempts to derail the elections persisted, with the process moving to GECOM headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown, where votes were tabulated “rapidly” using a bedsheet.
This was revealed by Rosalinda Rasul, who served as a local observer for AmCham during the March 2020 elections.
Rasul, who is the head of the Diaspora Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, continued her testimony on Wednesday when the trial into the case continued at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Nine individuals are before the court in relation to electoral fraud. They are: former APNU+AFC government minister Volda Lawrence; former GECOM Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; former GECOM Returning Officer for District Four Clairmont Mingo; former GECOM Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers; APNU+AFC’s Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith Joseph; and former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Michelle Miller, and Denise Babb-Cummings.
They face nine conspiracy charges allegedly committed between Election Day (2 March 2020) and 2 August 2020.
It is alleged that the defendants conspired during the 2020 General and Regional Elections to defraud the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of votes cast.
Elections Fraud Trial: Local Observer details uproar over false Region Four declaration
They have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty is presiding over the trial. The case finally commenced in July 2024 after years of delays. However, further setbacks occurred when presiding magistrate Leron Daly reported sick and extended his leave, necessitating the reassignment of the case.
When she returned to the witness stand on Wednesday, Rasul, who testified under oath, continued to detail what transpired during the tabulation and verification of votes.
Rasul told the court that after District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo attempted to falsely declare the results for the district, proceedings were filed in the High Court.
However, this did not affect his determination to achieve his motive. So, he ordered the tabulation process to be moved to GECOM headquarters.
Rasul told the court that party representatives and observers were informed by Mingo that they were required to assemble under a shed at GECOM headquarters by 4 p.m.
She said she was escorted under heavy security to the location, where she was directed to the area where the process would take place.
There, Rasul said, Mingo was present. He was accompanied by Babb-Cummings and February, who took turns calling out numbers from papers they had in their possession.
During this process, Rasul said party representatives raised several objections, including that the numbers were being called too fast. But their objections were ignored, and the process continued until it was completed.
However, before this, Rasul told the court that ANUG representative Jonathan Yearwood told Mingo, “If there is any trouble in this country, you will be responsible for it.”
Subsequently, she said, Yearwood and Smith Joseph were involved in an altercation, which resulted in Yearwood being escorted by the police out of the property.
And while the process continued, she added that party representatives and other observers also departed.
Shortly after, Rasul related that she left the property, and another observer from AmCham took over.
She said she did an analysis of her observations and submitted it to AmCham.
The trial has been adjourned to 17 March.
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