–CoI hears

IN the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, District Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo broke with procedure when he attempted to make a declaration of results for the district without completing the tabulation and verification processes.

Moments after Mingo made his first declaration on March 5, members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had a meeting at which it was unanimously agreed that Mingo was out of order.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Commissioner Sase Gunraj testified to this on Thursday, when he appeared before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into those elections.

Gunraj recalled that when he realised that Mingo was about to make a declaration, he protested.

“I followed him, impressing upon him the need to complete the statutory procedure before making the declaration,” Gunraj said.

But his words fell on deaf ears. Gunraj said that he followed Mingo up the stairs onto the second floor, but he was prevented from proceeding beyond that point by the then Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers.

Mingo attempted to make his declaration but his voice was drowned out by those who protested his move.

Shortly after that, Gunraj caused the Chairperson of GECOM, Claudette Singh to call a meeting, during which Mingo’s attempt at a declaration was raised.

Gunraj testified that the position taken by the commission was that the tabulation and verification processes must conclude before Mingo can make any declaration.

The decision was unanimous.
Gunraj said that Singh then contacted the then Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield. The call was placed on speaker. Lowenfield said that he was at his office in Kingston. He was told of the commission’s decision and he endeavoured to return to the Ashmin building and ensure the resumption of the tabulation exercise.

Gunraj said that the meeting of the commission had not yet adjourned when he was informed that Mingo was yet again trying to make a declaration. This was brought to the attention of the GECOM Chair.

In the end, the intervention of the court is what stopped Mingo in his tracks.