The election fraud case continued today before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, with testimony from Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony and former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) elections agent Anieshaw Mohamed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Minister Anthony testified about events that transpired on 7 May 2020 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where he served as a candidate and tabulation agent for the PPP/C.
He stated that statements of recount were provided to GECOM officials, displayed for all to see, and that numbers were read from these documents and entered into a spreadsheet. He said three PPP/C representatives were present: himself, Sasenarine Singh, and Anieshaw Mohamed. Under questioning by Prosecutor Latchmie Rahamat, Anthony said they possessed copies of the statements of recount and used them to compare figures displayed by GECOM to ensure they matched.
Under cross-examination by attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes and Eusi Anderson regarding the tabulation process at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Anthony stated that nothing obstructed his view of the figures displayed by GECOM officials and that the numbers matched their copies.
He further stated that after verifying the accuracy of the figures, he signed a certificate of recount and an Excel spreadsheet stamped by GECOM. Hughes asked whether he had been questioned by the Guyana Police Force to identify any spreadsheets during investigations, to which he replied no. Anthony also stated that he was unaware of any missing poll books, as he could not speak to events outside the tabulation room at the centre.
Earlier in the day, Mohamed continued her testimony before Magistrate McGusty. She was questioned by Hughes regarding East Coast District spreadsheets during the Region Four vote recount. The courtroom became tense when Mohamed said she felt Hughes was misrepresenting her testimony, prompting an exchange in which Hughes allegedly described the witness as disrespectful and “racial.”
Mohamed strongly rejected the remark and repeatedly called for Hughes to retract it. Hughes said he had nothing to retract and told the court he was frustrated and prepared to end the cross-examination, adding that he had little left to ask. The proceedings were subsequently adjourned.
The case is set to resume tomorrow.
The ongoing trial stems from allegations that the District Four vote count was manipulated during the 2 March 2020 General and Regional Elections. Others charged include former Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers, PNCR executive Volda Lawrence, PNCR member Carol Smith-Joseph, and former GECOM staff members Enrique Livan, Sheffern February, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller. Together, they face 19 electoral fraud charges.
All have pleaded not guilty and are on bail. The prosecution alleges that the accused played a “critical role” in inflating votes for the APNU+AFC coalition while reducing votes for the PPP/C.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony
