—Todd says party has confidence in court, wants proceedings brought to an end
The PNCR/APNU yesterday accused the prosecution in the 2020 elections fraud case of prolonging proceedings to punish political opponents, while MP and attorney Dexter Todd expressed confidence in the court and said steps would be taken to press for the matter’s conclusion.
Reading a statement at APNU’s press conference, PNCR General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin questioned why the cases remained unresolved six years after the General and Regional Elections and called for the evidence to be tested and the charges determined.
“The PNCR/APNU believes that the prolonged prosecution has all the hallmarks of a political witch-hunt intended to punish political opponents, intimidate participants in the electoral process and damage the reputations of Guyanese who served their country,” Benjamin read.
The party’s criticism comes amid an ongoing trial in which witnesses have already testified and faced cross-examination.
“If the prosecution has evidence of electoral fraud, let that evidence be placed before the court and tested according to law. A charge is not a conviction. An allegation is not evidence. Political rhetoric is not proof,” the PNCR/APNU statement said.
It argued that the prolonged proceedings had damaged the reputations of the accused without a determination of guilt.
“Prosecution must never become punishment by another name,” Benjamin read.
“The courts, the law and the criminal justice system belong to the State, not to the PPP/C Government,” the party said.
Responding to a question, Todd said that the intention was to press for the prosecution’s case to be brought to a conclusion, while emphasising his confidence in the court.
“We believe that the court which is handling this matter is a competent court, the magistrate is very sound,” he said.
“We intend to put some pressure on the prosecution and to have the court buy in that this charade must come to an end.”
Todd did not outline a specific application or timetable for doing so.
The cases concern alleged attempts to manipulate the results of the March 2, 2020 elections. The accused include former Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers, former District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, Volda Lawrence, Carol Smith-Joseph, Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Bobb-Cummings and Michelle Miller.
The charges stem from the five-month delay in the declaration of results from the March 2nd 2020 General Elections after disputes over the use of a spreadsheet in which numbers were different from those recorded on Statements of Poll. A recount eventually led to the declaration of a final result.
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