Attempts to rig 2020 elections: CoI begins this week, witnesses asked to come forward, testify

With the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the events that followed the March 2, 2022 General and Regional Elections set to commence later this week, witnesses are being encouraged to step forward to testify.
The Commission is scheduled to commence its hearing on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Lot 95 Middle Street, Georgetown.
In a notice published in Guyana Times on Sunday and today, the CoI Secretariat said “Any person wishing to give evidence on matters relating to the Commission’s Terms of Reference may contact the Secretary of the Commission of Inquiry [Javed Shadick]…”

According to Shadick in a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), persons who wish to give evidence can visit the Middle Street Secretariat in person to give their statements.
He noted that the information received will be handled diligently, and the Commission will respond in the shortest possible time to accommodate everyone’s participation.
Moreover, Administrator of the CoI, Colonel Ronald Hercules, also reassured that persons coming forward to testify have no reason to fear since all systems are being put in place to ensure a safe process.
He told DPI last Tuesday, that all facilities, accommodation, and security apparatus are ready, and operating at optimum levels.
“We are totally set and all arrangements are in place to operate a safe environment for the inquiry,” Hercules stated.
Fulfilling a commitment made at his inauguration, President Dr Irfaan Ali in June announced the Election CoI and in September, he swore in the members. The Commission will be headed by retired Justice of Appeal Stanley John of Turks and Caicos, who will serve as Chairman, with the panel also comprising of former acting Justice of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean, Godfrey P Smith, and former acting Chancellor of Guyana’s Judiciary, Carl Singh.
They will be assisted by former Chief Elections Commissioner of India, Dr Nasim Zaidi, and former Chairman of the Ghana Elections Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who will serve as resource personnel to the CoI.

ToR
The Terms of Reference of the Commission include to inquire into and report upon the relevant circumstances and events leading up to, and the procedures following the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections not limited to but including the counting, ascertaining and tabulation of votes polled and the public declaration of those results by the Returning Officer of Electoral District No 4 and other election officers.
The Commission will also have to inquire into what attempts, if any, were made to obstruct, frustrate, subvert and prevent the counting ascertainment and tabulation of votes polled and a declaration of the true results of Electoral District No 4 and by whom. They will also have to report on what attempts, if any, were made to obstruct, frustrate, subvert and prevent a decision of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), made on March 14, 2020, to conduct a national recount of the votes polled at the March 2 polls from being executed and implemented, and also inquire into the conduct of the Chief Election Officer, other elections officers, and others in respect of the discharge and execution of their statutory duties prescribed by the Representation of the People Act.
Additionally, the CoI is tasked with making such recommendations as the Commission deems fit and necessary to permit the Guyana Elections Commission to discharge its statutory functions as prescribed by Sections 84-89,96-97 of the Representation of the People Act, Chap 1:03 in a manner which is impartial, fair and compliant with the Constitution and relevant legislation and to make any other recommendations which the Commission deems appropriate having regard to the law and to any evidence which may be presented.

Made public
Already, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has indicated that all the spending on the CoI will be made public.
This assurance was given by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, in response to a request made by APNU/AFC Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul to the Commissioner of Information for the full disclosure of the renumeration packages of the Commissioners appointed to probe the March 2020 polls.
Mahipaul also sought similar information on the salaries and other benefits of additional persons attached to the Commission.
But Nandlall said in September that Government would publish not only the renumeration packages, but all the spendings of the CoI.
“…It is going to be an expensive undertaking, and I want to assure that every single cent of the monies that are going to be expended will be made public, because it is public funds. We are going to make it public,” he contended.
According to the Attorney General, while this will be an expensive undertaking, this CoI is necessary, especially to bring to light those who were behind the events following the March 2020 polls – something which he argued that the Opposition is afraid of.
Following a largely smooth polling day on March 2, 2020, Guyana was thrown into a tumultuous five-month political and electoral impasse after the then incumbent APNU/AFC regime attempted to steal the election. It was found during a subsequent national recount process that former Returning Officer for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo, had heavily inflated the votes in favour of the coalition party.
Since the election fiasco unfolded, several persons that served within the apparatus of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have already been charged with electoral fraud. These include former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, former PNCR Minister Volda Lawrence, and Mingo, among others. (G8)