Chairman wants Elections COI Hearings to end by February 10

Before the curtains came down on this round of public hearings today, APNU+AFC Member, Nicola Denise Trotman took the stand in the presence of her Attorney Nigel Hughes.

Chairman wants Elections COI Hearings to end by February 10

The Elections Commission of Inquiry is taking another break and will be reconvened on the 6th February. At that time, Attorney General Anil Nandlall and other Government officials are expected to be called to the stand. The Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry, retired Trinidadian Appeal Judge, Stanley John, today said he would like the hearings to wrap up by the 10th February.

“Our intention is to resume on Monday, 6th of February…and we [will] make every effort to complete the hearings by the 10th of February…As I understand it that we should have the Honourable Attorney General, maybe some other Ministers of Government,” the Chairman said.

He also announced that in that final week of hearings, the Attorney for the former Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers will be able to cross-examine witnesses that have appeared before the Commission.

Before the curtains came down on this round of public hearings today, APNU+AFC Member, Nicola Denise Trotman took the stand in the presence of her Attorney Nigel Hughes.

Before she took the stand, her Attorney informed the Commission that his client will not offer testimony based on her submitting an an affidavit in an election related case.

Having been informed, Commissioner Carl Singh enquired whether Ms Trotman would have any objection to the affidavit being tendered as evidence before the Commission as an alternative. But though Mr Hughes explained he was not Ms Trotman’s Attorney when the Affidavit was filed before the Courts, the Commissioners pressed him to advise his clients in favour of having the document tendered.

“If it does not incriminate in any way then the Commission really expects your assistance as counsel. The offer is made to you if you would like to look at the affidavit…Mr Hughes, really when you came your role here before us is as counsel for a summoned witness…so I believe you do bear some responsibility. We are here not witch-hunting, we are not here to get at anybody, we are here to ascertain the truth in relation to our terms of reference and if we could get your assistance, we would be grateful,” Commissioner Singh reasoned.

But Mr Hughes maintained his position, explaining that he is unaware of the content of the Affidavit or its status.

Notwithstanding Mr Hughes’ indication that Ms Trotman intends to exercise her constitutional right to remain silent in her appearance before the Commission of Inquiry.

When she took the stand, she repeatedly informed the Commission’s Counsel that she would not be answering her questions.

She was questioned on her role during the 2020 Elections, on the members of the coalition’s tabulation team including Ms Volda Lawrence, and conversations she reportedly had with officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) during the course of the elections. To all the questions posed by the Commission’s Legal Counsel, Ms Trotman indicated that in keeping with the advice of her Counsel, she wished not to respond.

Nicola Denise Trotman

To date, a number of high-ranking officials have appeared before the Commission, including the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh; Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud; former Commissioner of Police Leslie James, and Assistant Commissioner of Police; former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Maxine Graham and Head of the Presidential Guard, Edgar Thomas.

Former Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; former Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers; Region Four former Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, Member of Parliament, Volda Lawrence and APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith-Joseph were also summoned to appear before the Commission but upon doing so, invoked their constitutional right to remain silent on the basis that they are currently the subject of a number of criminal proceedings relating to the elections.

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