The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the March 2020 general and regional elections kicks off today and witnesses are expected to give evidence from tomorrow.
Secretary of the CoI, Javed Shadick yesterday told Stabroek News that there will be an opening ceremony at 10.30am during which the Chairman of the Commission, retired Trinidad Justice of Appeal, Stanley John is expected to deliver an address.
Shadick said witnesses have come forward and they will be summoned to give evidence from tomorrow when the hearings from the CoI are expected to begin. “It will be from the next day which is Friday…. People have come forward so we will start doing those on Friday,” he said.
Details about the proceedings including a schedule for the hearings are expected to be shared today.
The CoI will also be live streamed so that it can be viewed by the public.
Premises situated at the bottom flat of the former Globe Trust building at 92 Middle Street, Georgetown have been rented and equipped to facilitate the CoI.
“The premises has since been secured and rented and have been fully furnished and equipped to accommodate the Commissioners, the Secretariat of the Commission, a place appointed and furnished for the hearing of evidence as well as to accommodate lawyers, persons who will be attending, members of the public as well as witnesses and interested parties and of course the press. All of that has been completed,” Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall previously told Stabroek News.
Nandlall said the Commissioners arrived in the country over the weekend.
On September 13, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan administered the oath of office to retired Justice John; former Attorney General, High Court Judge and Acting Justice of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean, Godfrey P. Smith SC; and former Chancellor (Ag), of the Guyana Judiciary, Carl Singh.
Justice John will chair the Commission while Dr Nasim Zaidi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India; and Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, former Chairman of the Ghana Elections Commission will serve as resource personnel.
The CoI is a result of a promise by President Irfaan Ali to investigate the attempt to rig the March 2020 polls in favour of the former APNU+AFC government. Five months after the March 2nd 2020 polls and after a series of legal battles, Ali was finally declared the winner of the presidential elections and subsequently sworn in as the country’s ninth executive president on August 2, 2020.
After taking office, he promised the probe into the elections by an international team. He had also committed his government to pursue the necessary reforms to strengthen democracy and make the electoral process more transparent.
The CoI will pay particular attention to District Four which was the epicentre of attempts to rig the polls. This information was contained in the terms of reference (TORs) released for the CoI.
The Commissioners under the said Act are to inquire into the matters set out by President Ali and include an inquiry into and report upon the relevant circumstances and events leading up to, and the procedures following, the Regional and General Elections held in Guyana on the 2nd day of March 2020. The investigation is not limited to, but includes the counting, ascertainment and tabulation of votes polled and the public declaration of those results by the Returning Officer of Electoral District No. 4 and other election officers, as prescribed by sections 84 to 89 of the Representation of the People Act, Chap. 1.03.
The three Commissioners will also examine what attempts, if any, were made to obstruct, frustrate, subvert and prevent the counting, ascertainment and tabulation of votes polled and a declaration of the true results of Electoral District No. 4 as prescribed by sections 84 to 89 of the Representation of the People Act, Chap. 1:03, and by whom.
