Inconsequential but follow the rules
Attorney-General Anil Nandlall
Attorney-General Anil Nandlall

–Attorney-General advises APNU+AFC in response to their latest elections fraud claim

ATTORNEY-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has reminded the leadership of the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) to follow the rule of law established by Guyana’s Constitution to deal with claims of elections fraud.

The Attorney-General issued the reminder during his programme, ‘Issues In the News’, on Tuesday in response to claims by Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton that GECOM has failed to act on official confirmation of evidence of voter impersonation at the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

Nandlall stated that while the Government is committed to facilitating investigations into the claims raised by the political opposition, there would be no real impact on the official results, were the claims of voter impersonation and dead or foreign voting found to be true.

“When I examined what they submitted, the total number of persons whom they claimed were dead or not in Guyana, let us assume that it was the truth, that the allegations were true, it’s a few hundred persons, not more than 500 persons. They lost the elections by 15,000 votes. But 300 or 400 would make a difference?”

Minister Nandlall noted that Government remains committed to ascertaining the truth regarding any fraud allegations during the 2020 elections, and is open to dialogue with the opposition. However, the opposition has outright refused to follow the rules and laws designed to govern investigations into this sensitive issue.

“Anytime there is an attempt to ventilate their concerns, they are not participating or they are incompetent to participate,” he stated.
The Attorney-General also pointed out that claims raised by the opposition were already assessed by the CARICOM recount team, which found them to be without merit.

“The CARICOM recount team that they appointed, that they said is the most appropriate interlocutor, they chose the CARICOM team, they chased away the Carter Center, they chased away the OAS, and they said they want the CARICOM team. And the CARICOM team listened to them and examined their documents, and then determined that their allegations lacked credibility; that they were concocted and fabricated, and that they did not bring the evidence to establish any of the wild, reckless allegations that they were making there,” Nandlall said.

Meanwhile, in keeping with its commitment to investigate claims of fraud, the Government on Tuesday swore in three commissioners who will preside over a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the protracted March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The members of the CoI are expected to examine the post-polling day period and alleged interference in the process by persons associated with the APNU+AFC.
The members of the CoI are retired Justice of Appeal Stanley John, who will chair the CoI; acting Justice of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean Godfrey P. Smith, S.C.; former Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Carl Singh, OR, CCH; and former Chair and Chief Elections Commissioner of India Dr. S.Y. Quraishi.

The inquiry is also expected to provide a foundation upon which the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) could repair the electoral system.
Additionally, the findings will be used to hold persons accountable, especially if they are found to have been involved in illegal activities.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.