Election fraud trial: AmCham observer cross-examined by defence

…date for site visit to Ashmin building to be decided

The case involving the nine persons charged with election fraud continued on Monday with American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)-Guyana observer, Rosalina Rasul taking the witness box for a second time since the restart of the trial before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Rasul was first cross cross-examined by Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes and then Attorney-at-Law Eusi Anderson later in the day.
During her testimony, the AmCham observer revealed several critical details to the court, including allegations that during the 2020 General Elections, election officials on the ground abandoned the use of Statements of Poll (SoP) and instead relied on a spreadsheet.

She testified that she witnessed staff from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) announcing numbers that did not match those on the corresponding documents held by party agents, sparking loud protests. Rasul further stated that many of these complaints were ignored, and the GECOM staff proceeded with presenting the “incorrect” numbers despite the objections.
Additionally, the court was informed that Rasul had amended her statement on the Elections Commission of Inquiry (COI) in 2022.
She was also questioned by defence counsel about her role as an independent and neutral election observer and the events that took place at the Ashmin’s building, which was the command centre.
Meanwhile, a date is yet to be determined for attorneys to visit the Ashmin building, where Rasul will identify and highlight areas referenced in her testimony.
In their proposal for the site visit to be conducted on Friday March 21, 2025, the defence requested that no restrictions be placed on what can be admitted as evidence.
Nine persons are before the court in this case, which pertains to the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. They include former Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo; former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and his former Deputy, Roxanne Myers.
Also charged are former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence; PNCR activist Carol Smith-Joseph; and GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Michelle Miller and Denise Babb-Cummings.
Together, these nine defendants confront 33 counts of election-related fraud, focused on alleged efforts to manipulate voting results. Initially overseen by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, the trial began in July 2024, but was paused following her extended medical leave, which has resulted in the trial being reassigned to Magistrate McGusty.