‘Absurd’ defence lawyers now seek to blame observers for interference in 2020 elections – Nandlall

In his Tuesday night’s ‘Issues in the News’ commentary, Attorney General Anil Nandlall made a striking claim regarding the ongoing fraud trials related to the 2020 elections. He labelled the defence strategy as “absurd” and accused the defence lawyers of attempting to deflect blame onto election observers.

Nandlall, speaking candidly, questioned the credibility of the allegations put forward by opposition parties, particularly the APNU and AFC, who have long maintained that the 2020 elections were marred by fraud. He dismissed their narrative as “fraudulent,” suggesting that their defence is based on unfounded claims.

“Follow the evidence,” Nandlall urged, encouraging the public to examine the proceedings critically.

“If you think that the narrative put forward by the APNU and AFC—that they were the victims of fraud—is anything but absurd, then follow the lawyers defending these charges,” he added.

The Attorney General went on to discuss the defence’s shifting tactics, stating that it now seems they are attempting to place the blame on election observers when the fraud and attempt to rig the elections were squarely done by their actors. According to Nandlall, reports emerging from the court and media suggest that the defence is accusing observers of attempting to interfere with the election results.

“It is the observers,” Nandlall said with incredulity, “who are now being accused of attempting to rig the elections.”

He cited prominent observer groups, such as the Carter Center, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Commonwealth, all of whom monitored the 2020 election process. In addition to these international bodies, local groups such as the Private Sector Commission and the Guyana Bar Association also played key roles as election observers.

“In other words, the people who came to ensure the integrity of the election, including the diplomatic community and ambassadors from the European Union and the Americas, are now being accused by the defence of attempting to rig the election. This is an absurd mentality,” Nandlall exclaimed.

He also pointed out that such a theory could have dangerous implications, adding that it could signal a mindset that undermines democracy and the rule of law. He further noted the parallels between this and the type of mentality exhibited by those who refuse to accept the results of a free and fair election.