The criminal trial concerning the alleged electoral fraud during Guyana’s 2020 general and regional elections has been adjourned for another 45 days as the presiding Magistrate, Leron Daly, remains on medical leave. The trial, which was scheduled to resume today after a 30-day sick leave granted to Magistrate Daly, has encountered another delay, as attorneys were informed that her health has not yet improved.
The trial features several prominent defendants, including People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) activist Carol Smith-Joseph, former Health Minister Volda Lawrence, and former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield. Other key figures involved are former GECOM Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, former District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, and GECOM staff members Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller. Collectively, the defendants face 19 conspiracy charges tied to allegations of election fraud.
The prosecution alleges that, between March 2 and August 2, 2020, Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo conspired with the other accused to defraud the electorate by falsely declaring the election results. The case, led by King’s Counsel Darshan Ramdhani, is built on substantial evidence, including certified copies of Statements of Poll (SoPs), Statements of Recount (SoRs), flash drives, witness statements from 80 individuals, video recordings, and key documents. Several high-profile witnesses, such as Minister of Local Government Sonia Parag and Head of the Diaspora Unit Rosalinda Rasul, have already testified.
The prosecution contends that Mingo and other officials intentionally manipulated the results in Region Four to secure a victory for the APNU+AFC caretaker government, thus compromising the democratic process. Additional witnesses, such as Forensic Investigator Rawle Nedd and former Region Four Police Commander Edgar Thomas, have provided critical testimonies in support of the prosecution’s case.
Since the filing of charges in late 2020, the trial has faced numerous delays, primarily due to adjournment requests from the defence and unforeseen circumstances, including Magistrate Daly’s medical leave. Despite GECOM’s dismissal of Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo in August 2021, the trial has struggled to gain momentum. Defence attorneys, including Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, Eusi Anderson, and Darren Wade, continue to contest the charges, further complicating the proceedings.
Today’s adjournment adds to the list of delays in this closely watched case.
