Elections fraud trial to continue on July 28

Following the cross-examination of two witnesses on Friday, the trial into the March 2020 General and Regional Elections has been adjourned till July 28th, 2025.

This is so because specific dates were set aside for the trial to be heard during a case management hearing for the case.

Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty is presiding over the trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

When the trial continued on Friday morning, local activist Jonathan Yearwood continued his testimony. Several voice recordings, in which he captured the events that unfolded at the GECOM Command Center at Ashmins Building, were played in court.

These recordings were used to let Yearwood to identify the voices of the persons heard speaking. He did so, though in some instances, he was unable to identify the voice.

Among those voices identified by Yearwood were those belonging to former Returning Officer of District Four, Clairmont Mingo, and former GECOM employee, Denise Babb-Cummings, along with GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh.

Exchanges during the tabulation and verification of votes cast in Region Four were heard.

Yearwood is to return to the stand for cross-examination. Cross-examination was slated to continue on Friday, but the court was informed that defence attorney, Eusi Anderson ,had some delays.

In the afternoon, Kit Nascimento, who served as an observer with the Private Sector Commission during the 2020 elections, appeared virtually. He was cross-examined by defense attorney Ronald Daniels.

During questioning, Daniels focused mainly on Nascimento’s role as an observer and his interactions.

The court heard from Nascimento that he was tasked with ensuring that the electoral process was conducted “accurately, honestly and fairly”. Nascimento was quick to point out that the 2020 elections were not the first where he was an observer. He said that he was “pretty well” experienced in this area and that the training provided added to his experience.

Nascimento also made it clear that he did not address Mingo at any time during the tabulation and verification of votes.

And he said the only person he reported to was the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission.

A number of other witnesses have since testified in the trial.

Nine individuals are currently before the court charged with conspiring to manipulate the election results in favour of APNU+AFC, thereby seeking to deny victory to the PPP.

Those charged include former government minister Volda Lawrence, former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, Mingo, and former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, among others.

The controversy surrounding the March 2020 elections delayed the results for five months until PPP candidate Irfaan Ali was sworn in as president on August 2, 2020.