Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall claims that there have been mounting questions about “the slow pace” of action on outstanding electoral fraud cases.
During his weekly televised programme, Nandlall said to this end, the administration will be writing to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack to seek an update on the matters, which have been before the courts since late 2020 and early 2021.
“The Government will request from the DPP soon, a status update on these charges, where they are and why they have not been prosecuted and progressed with the accuracy and seriousness with which they should,” the Attorney General said.
He noted that once the government has received the preliminary report from the DPP, the information would be made public. “You are entitled to that information, and it will come from the DPP because the DPP is responsible for the prosecution of these offences, the AG said.
Nandlall further expounded that the charges laid against the accused persons are being instituted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and that upon the advice of the DPP, the government is insulated from the process.
“But it doesn’t mean that the government will sit idly by and allow these charges to just fall away. We are equally important stakeholders in this society, as you are members of the public, you are equally interested in the outcome of these charges,” he stated.
Some 32 electoral fraud cases have been filed in the Magistrates Court against several former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials and political activists who are accused of being involved in the attempt to manipulate the results of the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.
These include former Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxane Myers, Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, APNU+AFC activist Carol Smith-Joseph among others.
