Rosalinda Rasul, Head of the Diaspora Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and a local observer during the March 2020 elections, remains on the witness sand as the trial concerning the 2020 General and Regional Elections continues.
During her cross-examination on Thursday, defence attorney Eusi Anderson asked Rasul about reporting suspicious activities during the elections to the police. Rasul responded by stating that she did not report any suspicious activities to the police, as she did not believe it was her duty to do so.
“It was not my role to report to the Police. I did what I was required to do,” Rasul told the court.
On Friday, Rasul returned for another day of cross-examination, maintaining her previous stance.
Special Prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani K.C. highlighted several points raised by the defence, one of which suggested that observers like Rasul should have reported irregularities to the police.
Ramdhani explained the three main themes the defence is focusing on:
The defence claims that independent observers, including Rasul, should have reported any suspicious activities to the police.
It has been suggested that Rasul could have gone to the police if she witnessed any criminal actions.
There are allegations that Rasul may have shown partiality towards the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), as she provided a statement for court proceedings initiated by the PPP.
Rasul defended her actions, stating that when she was asked to provide a statement for the PPP’s court proceedings, she was merely fulfilling her role as an observer. She maintained that she had only shared what she had witnessed during her time at Ashmin’s Building.
The trial, which is being heard before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, resumed on Friday for the fourth day of testimony. However, Thursday’s focus was on Rasul’s involvement in the recount process, her interactions with party officials, and whether she took any action when she observed suspicious activities related to the tabulation of votes in Region Four at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Command Centre at Ashmin’s Building.
Rasul clarified that, although she was present at the location, she only interacted with representatives of the PPP/C. She also reiterated that, according to her training as a local observer, it was not her role to report any issues to the police.
Rasul acknowledged interacting with several prominent figures, including GECOM Chairman Retired Justice Claudette Singh, who she spoke with on March 12, 2020, when the Chief Justice (ag), Roxanne George, ordered the resumption of the verification process. She also had interactions with Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Sonia Parag, and Sasenarine Singh. However, she stressed that she could not comment on whether GECOM Chairperson Singh’s actions during the vote tabulation were in support of or against any individual or party, stating, “I cannot say whether her actions were in support or against anything.”
Other key topics of questioning during the cross-examination included the vote tabulation process and false declarations made by the Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo. However, Rasul maintained that she followed her training and had no direct interactions with APNU/AFC officials, despite having access to them.
Nine individuals are currently facing charges in relation to the alleged electoral fraud, including former APNU+AFC government minister Volda Lawrence, former GECOM Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Region 4 Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, former GECOM Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith Joseph, and former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Michelle Miller, and Denise Babb-Cummings.
The accused face nine conspiracy charges related to actions allegedly taken between Election Day (March 2, 2020) and August 2, 2020. The charges relate to a conspiracy to defraud the electors of Guyana by manipulating the election results and denying the PPP a victory. The election was delayed for five months until August 2020, when Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President and the PPP took office.
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