In a pivotal moment of the ongoing election fraud trial, former observer for the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Christopher Nascimento, provided testimony regarding the contentious vote tabulation in Region Four during the March 2020 elections in Guyana. The individuals facing charges include PNCR member Carol Smith-Joseph and ex-Health Minister Volda Lawrence, alongside former GECOM officials and staff who collectively face 19 conspiracy counts.
Nascimento’s account was presented to Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, where he described his initial experience on election day as orderly. However, tensions escalated at the Guyana Elections Commission Command Centre on March 4, when he noted significant discrepancies during the vote verification process. He observed representatives from the PPP/C voicing concerns that the figures being projected diverged from their official Statements of Poll.
He explained that a Statement of Poll is a structured document detailing voting results, and when Keith Lowenfield, former Chief Election Officer, arrived and noticed inconsistencies in the displayed figures, he paused the process. Furthermore, Nascimento recounted how, the next day, Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo attempted to declare the election results prematurely, despite the ongoing tabulation. This prompted an outcry from PPP/C leaders, including President Irfaan Ali, eventually causing Mingo to retract his declaration. Nascimento’s observations continue to shape the narrative of this high-stakes trial.
Source: guyanachronicle.com
