The High Court at 10:30hrs today will entertain arguments in Contempt of Court Proceedings filed against Region Four’s Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.
The proceedings which were filed yesterday by the Opposition alleges that Mingo has once again breached the relevant electoral laws as it relates to the verification of votes for electoral district number four.
The court action which was filed by former Attorney General and PPP/C Executive Member, Anil Nandlall contends that Mingo has once again breached Sections 84 (1) and 86 (1) of the Representation of the People Act.
It claims that the Returning Officer is in flagrant violation of the court orders handed down by the Chief Justice Wednesday.
Specifically, Nandlall complains that Mingo has resorted to using a pre-paid spreadsheet to ascertain the number of votes cast in that district; this, he said, is not in keeping with the court’s orders.
Added to that, he also complains that his party’s six duly appointed elections candidates were not allowed to witness the verification process.
Section 86 (1) of the Representation of the People Act, outlines the persons who must be present at the counting of the votes.
They include: the returning officer and such other election officers as he may appoint to assist him in the counting; the Minister, members of the Commission and members of any team of observers appointed by the minister; duly appointed candidates; counting agents; such other persons as, in the opinion of the Returning Officer, have good reason to be present.
Nandlall is of the belief that Mingo is however not acting alone.
During a press conference yesterday, he told reporters GECOM’s chairperson, Claudette Singh, Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, as well as members on the commission are aiding and abetting Mingo.
Section 6 of the Contempt of Court Act states: Any person natural or person artificial found
to be in contempt of Court is liable in the case of –
(a) an individual, to a fine not exceeding
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.
(b) a company or other association, to a
fine not exceeding seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars ($750,000).
