Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senior Cousel Anil Nandlall, is not happy with the time it is taking for the election fraud cases to be heard.
At a press conference on Monday, the Attorney General questioned some of the decisions of the Magistrates who have been hearing the matters, pointing out that in his view, the cases are not being treated with the seriousness he believes they deserve.
“And it behooves me to comment, fairly, but critically, on the reasons why. Magistrates after Magistrates, have found reasons that can’t withstand scrutiny for not proceeding to try these cases and other related cases. Magistrates have found reasons after reasons to recuse themselves,” the AG stated.
Mr. Nandlall said when members of the PPP were charged under the previous Government, they all had their day in Court without any Magistrate recusing themselves. He said there is now a wave of Magistrates recusing themselves to try the election cases and similar cases, and though he is not suggesting ulterior motives, he said he must be critical.
“There is no sacred cow in the state of Guyana. All of those who are paid with public funds, must be subjected to scrutiny, respectful scrutiny. I am not attributing any ulterior motives to anyone. I am simply relating the facts,” Mr. Nandlall stated.
According to the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack has written to the Chancellor of the Judiciary requesting the Chancellor’s intervention, explaining that the Chancellor has a supervisory authority over Magistrates in the country.
“These are matters national importance, of international significance. One hundred governments across the globe, came out and condemn the conduct that the witnessed, and here it is, charges have been filed and after years in our court system, the trial in relation to those charges have not yet commenced,” a seemingly upset Attorney General said.
Mr. Nandlall said an entire electoral cycle is about to be completed and there are still no interventions on the persons charged in relation to cases emanating from the last General and Regional Elections.
A number of former GECOM officials as well as officials from the Opposition APNU+AFC are facing various charges related to alleged electoral fraud. The matters have been crawling their way through the local Court system for more than three years.
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