– as magistrate nixes delay attempt

THE much-anticipated trial over alleged electoral irregularities during the 2020 general and regional elections resumed on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, with King’s Counsel Darshan Ramdhani accusing the defence of using delay tactics to stall the proceedings.
The case, which involves high-profile defendants including former Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield and former Health Minister Volda Lawrence, had been stalled multiple times, due to objections raised by their attorneys.
Ramdhani, leading the prosecution, delivered his opening address on Monday morning, laying out the key evidence and the prosecution’s strategy.
However, the courtroom atmosphere quickly shifted when defence attorney Eusi Anderson made multiple applications requesting original Statements of Poll (SoPs) and protection for the nine defendants. Anderson also sought a site visit to the former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Command Centre, arguing that these measures were essential for a fair trial.

Ramdhani responded assertively, accusing Anderson of attempting to manipulate the trial’s timeline and suggesting that the defence’s motions were more about gaining media attention than addressing substantive legal concerns.
“This attorney at law, my learned friend of the opposite side, waited until this morning, the 29th of July, 2024 to speak of an occasion that occurred in 2020. This is simply a ruse! This is simply something he wants to speak about to distract.
“Because if he had any genuine concern in the last four years, he would have mentioned it to some court to say, ‘Please give me protection’. Where was the question and the request for protection in four years? Today, he stands up at the beginning of the trial, and he says, ‘Look, I want protection’ and an award from you to go to the press. That’s what he’s seeking! This is no genuine effort!,” Ramdhani said.
Senior Magistrate Leron Daly ruled that the original SoPs would only be presented when deemed appropriate and that any decision regarding a site visit would be contingent on the evidence presented during the trial.
“I have to hear the evidence before I decide,” Magistrate Daly reaffirmed, nixing the defence’s attempts to delay the trial.
The court then proceeded with the testimony of Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag, who was a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) in the 2020 elections.
The prosecution contends that the defendants manipulated the election results in Region Four, the country’s largest voting district, to favour the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition.
The official recount, conducted under the supervision of a high-level Caribbean Community (CARICOM) team, confirmed that the PPP/C had indeed won the election by a significant margin.
The trial, originally set to begin in early 2024, had faced numerous delays, primarily due to objections and applications from the defence.