Court of Appeal (COA) Judge, Dawn Gregory-Barnes during the case management hearing today, fixed the hearing of the appeal of the election’s results matter for Saturday, July 22 at 10am. The Judge said that the matter will conclude on Saturday, after which, the court will further decide when it will render its decision.
Thirty minutes will be granted to the appellant, and 20 minutes each for the respondents.
The appeal was filed by Misenga Jones, a supporter of the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC). The appellant wants the court to overturn Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George’s ruling on Monday that only the votes from the national recount should be used to declare a winner of the March General and Regional Elections. Those figures show a win for the Opposition Party, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
She also ruled that the 10 Regional declarations made by the Returning Officers (ROs) cannot be “resurrected”. These declarations show a win for the incumbent.
The Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield is adamant that these declarations should be used. He was asked by the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Retired) Claudette Singh on more than three occasions to include the recount data in his report. Lowenfield has failed to do so on every occasion, even though he is subject to the control and direction of the Commission.
Jones’ application seeks to force the Commission to use the 10 declarations made by the ROs.
Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes, Justice Rishi Persaud and Justice Priya Beharry are presiding over the case.
