With the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the 2020 General and Regional Elections set to commence public hearing in early November, the Secretariat is encouraging witnesses to come forward.
In a pre-recorded interview released by the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Commission’s Secretary, Javed Shadick and Administrator, Colonel Ronald Hercules pleaded with ‘witnesses’ to make contract with the COI Secretariat located on Middle Street.
“Anyone who has any information or is willing to come to the Commission of Inquiry, you can call [the secretariat], leave your information and we will get back to you,” Mr Shadick said.
He explained that the numbers to contact are: 231-9820 and 231-9828. Mr Shadick explained that the Inquiry will take the format of a Court hearing, where the Commissioners and assigned Attorneys will be posing questions to the various witnesses.
“The Commission of Inquiry itself, it will be in the format of like a court. So the Commissioners will be asking questions, there will be attorneys present, and you just basically give your evidence before the commission. It is not a tedious task, and we are hoping that we will have persons who will willingly come forward to give statements pertaining to what happened during the 2nd of March 2020,” the Commission Secretary further explained.
Colonel Hercules disclosed that the Commission of Inquiry Secretariat has been staffed, and the Lot 95 Middle Street Office is almost prepared for the commencement of the public hearings.
The high-level COI chaired by Retired Justice of Appeal, Stanley John, was appointed on September 13, 2022 to inquire into certain events connected with and being part of the Regional and General Elections.
Special focus will be placed on the counting, ascertainment and tabulation of votes polled and the public declaration of those results by the Region Four Returning Officer, and other Election Officers as stipulated by the Representation of the People Act.
The Commission is also tasked with determining 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 the Law.
It will also enquire into the conduct of the Chief Election Officer and other Election Officials.
At the end of the process, the Justice John-led Commission will submit its recommendations in a report to President Irfaan Ali.
The main opposition – the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) – has registered its non-support for the Commission on the basis that the matter is currently engaging the attention of the Courts in the form two Election Petitions.
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