Justice Jo Ann Barlow will rule on August 09, 2021 on a request for a Conservatory Order by the country’s embattled Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfiled.
Lowenfield has filed an Application in the High Court, seeking the Order which is akin to an injunction, to prevent government-nominated Election Commissioners Sase Gunraj and Bibi Shadick from participating in discussions on his dismissal at the level of the Guyana Elections Commission.
When the matter came up in the High Court on Thursday, several timelines were set for submissions and responses with the August 09 date set for a ruling.
The Order/Injunction was not granted.
Lowenfield, in the application, has asked for a declaration that he is entitled to the protection of the rules of natural justice and the right to a fair hearing and determination for the motion of his dismissal brought by Gunraj and seconded by Shadick.
He has also sought an order restraining Gunraj and Shadick from participating as adjudicators in the hearing.
Lowenfield, in the application, seeks a declaration that the government-nominated commissioners cannot properly participate, hear and determine their own complaint against him.
The application also seeks a declaration that the respondent, which is GECOM, having determined that there shall be a hearing of the motion, is bound to provide him with a fair hearing, including the protections of the rules of natural justice.
Listing the grounds for the application, Lowenfield said, inter alia, that he was entitled to the rules of natural justice to a fair hearing, in keeping with the terms of his employment contract, including the right not to have the complainants participate as adjudicators in the hearing of their own complaints against him.
He contended that the participation of Gunraj and Shadick in the deliberations of his dismissal “infected the deliberations of the Commission with bias”.
Last month, a motion to immediately dismiss the embattled Lowenfield, was moved by Gunraj, while Shadick, moved another motion to remove his Deputy, Roxanne Myers. The third motion was moved by Commissioner, Manoj Narayan, seeking the immediate dismissal of District #4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.
The trio is accused of electoral fraud, committed last year during the March 2020 Regional and General Elections.
