On the 16th day of the Ongoing Commission of Inquiry in the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, two former Ministers and a party agent were summoned before the Commissioners presiding over the inquiry.
Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Karen Cummings and Former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence as well as Opposition Elections Scrutineer Carol Smith-Joseph stood before the commission and opted not to give evidence in the inquiry.
Smith-Joseph and Lawrence were represented by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes who submitted to the Commissioners that the women are before the courts with pending matters pertaining to allegations stemming from Elections Day 2020.
“They could face some jeopardy if they testify. So I’ve been advised to exercise the right to not incriminate themselves or put themselves in a position to incriminate themselves. So as a consequence they won’t testify,” Hughes submitted.
Commissioner Justice Carl Singh explained that the position by the women is one the commission will respect. Hughes was then told that the women will have to take the stand and exercise their right to remain silent; which they did thereafter.
This is not the first time persons have opted to remain silent after being summoned by the Commission. Last year, the Commission summoned three Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), all of whom opted not to testify due to their current court matters.
Denise Babb-Cummings, Shefern February, Michelle Miller and Carolyn Duncan were summoned last year and opted not to give evidence in the Commission of Inquiry.
