AFTER being accused of supporting electoral fraud and delaying the 2020 Regional and General results for five months, Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, has now indicated that the APNU+AFC Coalition will support any assistance provided by the Canadian Government to reform Guyana’s electoral system.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, had noted that the government is seeking the assistance of the Canadian Government to help reform its electoral legislation.
Nandlall had noted that electoral reform will ensure that the tragedy which unfolded after the March 2 General and Regional Elections never recurs.

During a press briefing on Monday, Harmon who was asked his position on electoral reform said Canada has always demonstrated a willingness to provide any form of assistance to Guyana.
“Canada has been one country that has helped us significantly in this. In fact, I believe it is the leading country with respect to aid to Guyana. I know that, for many years, the Canadians have looked at our electoral system to try to see how best they can facilitate the early declaration of results. I think it is in that area that they are focused on,” Harmon said.
He continued: “I recall in the period 2011-2015, they brought in several machines to see how best it can be utilised to ensure that we can have from the time of the close of poll until you have a declaration…to ensure that time is significantly reduced.”

The Opposition Leader noted that funding for electoral reform is important.
“What will be important is funding for electoral reform and the work which has to be done with respect to any changes which have to be done with the Constitution.”
Among the reforms, the People’s Progressive Party/C (PPP/C) Government wants systems in place to ensure that Statements of Poll (SOPs) are published by the respective political parties on a website and made public within hours of receipt.

The Attorney General had noted that the reforms should ensure that there are oversight mechanisms in place to scrutinise the work of the Returning Officers (ROs), thereby guarding against the declaration of false results.

The proposals also include a system where employment procedures and practices are used to ensure the best candidates are selected to work during elections, and to also have fixed qualifications, character references and testimonials for those officials.
It is also seeking to ensure that there is a heavy penal system accompanying electoral offences that will deter any official from doing wrong during the elections.
Chairperson of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence, on October 14, 2020 appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after she was charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Lawrence, a former Health Minister, was released on $100,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
The charges alleged that Lawrence, on March 5, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, conspired with GECOM’s Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, and others to declare a fraudulent account of votes for District Four in the March 2 elections.
The Chief Magistrate released Lawrence on $50,000 bail on each count and adjourned the case to December 9. It was her second appearance before the court to answer elections fraud charges.
On August 24, 2020, she was placed on $100,000 bail by Magistrate McLennan in relation to a private criminal charge filed against her for the alleged fraudulent elections declaration of March 5, 2020.

She was jointly charged with Mingo, who is currently on self-bail for the indictment.
That charge was filed given that their signatures were on said declaration, and a national vote recount subsequently found that the numbers were inflated in favour of the APNU+AFC.
Mingo is also before the court on several fraud charges, including uttering a forged document with intent to defraud the public, contrary to Section 278 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.
He was granted $600,000 bail and the case adjourned to November 16, to allow the prosecution time to complete the filing of statements.
Lawrence and Mingo are among several who are before the court charged with various offences pertaining to the March 2 elections.
Earlier this month, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers, was released on $300,000 bail, after pleading not guilty to two counts of misconduct in public office, when she appeared before the Chief Magistrate.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, is before the court on three private criminal fraud charges and is expected to go on trial next month.
Lowenfield has been accused of presenting elections results with the exact inflated figures in favour of the APNU+AFC. Those same figures were declared by Mingo. He was not required to plead and was released on $450,000 bail.