The Alliance for Change (AFC) has questioned the validity of a sudden investigation by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) into Chief Elections Scrutineer Carol Smith-Joseph. She was accused of committing 14 counts of fraud during her time as a Director of the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS) back in 2016.
AFC Executive Member, David Patterson in responding to a question from Guyana Standard explained that the charges laid against Smith-Joseph by SOCU were aimed at discrediting her, especially since she has filed court proceedings which saw a delay in the process for next year’s elections. Patterson posited that the Chief Scrutineer was not the only member of the board while the coalition was in government.
“Mrs. Joseph was one of three signatories… Why was no one else charged? No one person can sign a cheque or any financial authorization,” Patterson said.
He further questioned whether or not the Secretary or the Chairman of the same board was questioned by SOCU in relation to the alleged fraud at MARDS.
“This was six years ago. Mrs. Joseph’s tenure at MARDS finished in 2016. A new board was sworn in in 2017. It is strange that the only person being charged is her. The timing of this charge is also something noteworthy,” Patterson said.
The Opposition Scrutineer appeared at SOCU this morning to answer allegations of fraud. Her lawyers, Roysdale Forde and Nigel Hughes believe that the charges are politically motivated.
She had filed a lawsuit at the Demerara High Court against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud and the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall seeking several declarations and orders intended to nullify the current preliminary list of electors.
