Myers silent at elections inquiry but lawyer will cross-examine Claudette Singh, other witnesses

Former Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers, invoked her right to remain silent when she took the stand at the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in the 2020 general and regional elections on Tuesday.

Myers would answer no questions or give testimony although there is already a mountain of written and oral evidence before the inquiry, alleging that she, in one way or another, colluded with the former APNU+AFC government and members of the Guyana Police Force in attempts change the outcome of the 2020 elections.

Instead, Myers’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, has sought permission to cross-examine those witnesses who gave testimony and implicated Myers in wrongdoing or in some cases, a gross deviation from standard operating procedures.

Many people gave testimony before the CoI implicating Myers in an apparent breach of standard operating procedures.

Some testified about her attempts to clear the Ashmins Building (the elections headquarters) of observers and party agents. She also, allegedly, influenced key election officials and members of the Guyana Police Force.

Starting on Wednesday, Hughes has been granted permission to cross-examine six witnesses including Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairwoman (retired) Justice Claudette Singh and GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj.

The other witnesses who implicated Myers and are to be cross-examined are GECOM’s IT Manager Aneal Giddings, Assistant Commissioner of Police Edgar Thomas, Assistant Registration Officer (ARO) Alexandra Sophia Bowman, and American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AmCham) Representative, Rosalina Rasul.

Thomas, during testimony on November 04, 2022, claimed that retired Police Commissioners Leslie James and Nigel Hoppie were bent on carrying out the instructions of Myers days after the March 02, 2020 elections.

The instruction from Myers was simple but persistent, Thomas said, noting she repeatedly shouted, in the most aggressive tone, to clear the building of everyone.

Thomas was the most senior person in charge of security at the Ashmins Building and the Division altogether, which spans Agricola on the East Bank of Demerara to Cummings Lodge on the East Coast of Demerara.

When Thomas refused to do so, she reportedly relied on his deputy, Phillip Azore, Deputy Commissioner, Maxine Graham and the two former Commissioners.

Hoppie was head of the Special Branch Unit at the time.

Rasul also testified of Myers’ attempt to clear the Ashmins Building and Rasul said although concerns were repeatedly raised about the flawed tabulation system, Myers reportedly promised to look into the incomplete verification of the Georgetown district. That, however, was never realised.