The trial into the alleged attempted fraud during the 2020 Elections faced a further delay today due to the unavailability of a number of witnesses. 

The trial was expected to continue this morning in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. However, presiding Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty took a decision to adjourn the case to September 15, 2026 due to the unavailability of a number of state witnesses.

When the case was called this morning, the Prosecution informed the Court that its witness for today had an emergency, and was no longer available to testify before the Court.

Earlier this week, the Prosecution had attempted to have another witness – the former Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Aneal Giddings – testify virtually on the grounds that he was out of the jurisdiction but the Defence had objected.   

Through the Prosecution, Giddings informed the Court that he would not be back in Guyana for another week and was not available to testify before that time.

The trial was initially intended to continue for the next two days but the Chief Magistrate (ag) said due to the unavailability of the witnesses, and other factors including the availability of herself, the prosecution and defence, the trial will now continue in September for a period two weeks and three days, starting September 15.

Nine persons including the former Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; former Deputy Chief Elections Officers (DCEO) Roxanne Myers and former Region 4 Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo are on trial.

The other defendants in the case are former Health Minister and Member of Parliament, Volda Lawrence; People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Member Carol Smith-Joseph; and Election Officers Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Bobb-Cummings and Michelle Miller. They are facing 19 conspiracy charges relating to an attempt to declare fraudulent results during the course of the 2020 Elections. They, however, have all maintained their innocence.

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