Another twist in the plot of the seemingly never-ending drama at the Guyana Elections Commission’s Command Centre, High and Hadfield Streets, saw Chairperson retired Justice Claudette Singh suspending the tabulation of votes for District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) votes.
Justice Singh suspended the process until she receives the written judgement of the court.
“There was a stoppage and during that, the Chair came and addressed the gathering (of Observers and Party Agents). She indicated that she did not receive the judgment and as a consequence, she caused a cessation of the process until she receives, digests (the Court’s ruling) and determines the way to proceed. She indicated once she receives the judgement she would determine the way forward,” GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj told reporters following the suspension.
This comes less than a day after Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George ruled that the Declaration of Results by the Returning Officer for the District, Clairmont Mingo, was null and void. The ruling came as a result of legal action brought by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
Mingo, the Court ruled, did not adhere to the process of tabulation as outlined in the Representation of the People’s Act.
CJ George ordered that the process recommence no later than 11:00h this morning (Thursday) but that order was not complied with since Mingo attempted to utilise the contentious spreadsheet.
Objections were raised which saw the intervention of the Chairperson who later suspended the process.
