In a surprise appearance yesterday before the elections inquiry, GECOM Chair Claudette Singh SC said she locked herself away in a room at a crucial juncture on March 5th 2020 when an illegal declaration was being made by Clairmont Mingo for the crucial Region Four.
Singh’s statements appeared to have left the commissioners incredulous as she was repeatedly asked by them why she hadn’t taken charge of the situation and instituted action against Mingo.
Singh had sworn an oath to perform her functions as GECOM chair but ever since March 5th 2020 when she had been found locked away in a room with a senior elections officer while Mingo made his declaration, questions have swirled about her motivations.
Yesterday was the first occasion that Singh spoke extensively about what had transpired on that day. The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was set up by President Irfaan Ali to probe the events surrounding the March 2nd 2020 elections which eventuated in a five-month delay in the declaration of the results.