Dear Editor,
It is my respectful view that Ms. Claudette Singh is trying to nullify the March 2, 2020 elections the way she did the 1997 elections. Below are the reasons for my belief:
1) She signed an order that allowed for baseless objections to be made during the recount exercise.
2) She adjusted the original order to allow the CEO to consider these unfounded objections in his final declarations.
3) Her signature is on a letter requesting the Chief Immigration Officer to validate claims that persons who were out of the jurisdiction voted on March 2, 2020.
Given the haste with which Ms. Singh chastised Mr. Sase Gunraj for attributing a statement to her, I am sure she would have responded to the letter, which contradicts a decision by the Commission not to investigate the allegations made by APNU+AFC. It also contradicts her public statement that “he who accuses must prove” because she is allowing GECOM to take the lead to prove baseless claims. Until Ms. Singh distances herself from the letter, I will remain convinced she intends to nullify the 2020 election.
As a former Judge, Ms. Singh must be aware that the investigation she is attempting to conduct is unlawful. She must also know that the Judicial Review Act may be used to penalize the Commission and Chairperson for taking GECOM down this unlawful road. Further, should the investigation reveal that ‘migrated persons’ voted, she cannot direct the fault at her agents but will have to share blame since she Chairs the Commission that is the brain and nerve of the electoral body. In this regard, Ms. Singh will be exposing the Polling Day Staff of GECOM and the entire Commission to criminal liabilities.
Ms. Singh has two options. Do the decent thing and follow the law or face more public shame by engaging in unlawful actions, similar to the unlawful declaration by Mingo that was vitiated by the Chief Justice. I believe she will choose the latter. Probabilistically, there is a 99.99 percent chance that Ms. Singh will allow GECOM to go down another unlawful path once more.
Yours faithfully,
S. Pasha