Supreme Court Judge, Franklin Holder has ruled that he will move ahead with hearing the case about GECOM’s decision to have a national recount of votes.
The Judge ruled that the Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter, throwing out arguments by Attorneys for the PPP General Secretary who argued that the Court did not have jurisdiction.
Justice Holder also dismissed a request by Mr. Jagdeo’s Attorneys for the Elections Commission to provide all of the statements of poll to the Court. The Judge said that matter of discovery is best suited for an election petition.
The way has now been cleared for the Judge to hear arguments in the substantive case that was filed by Ulitta Moore seeking the Court’s intervention to block a recount of all votes as part of an agreement reached by the President and the Opposition Leader.
While the case was filed by the APNU+AFC candidate in her private capacity, the APNU+AFC, the PPP and a number of other parties have joined the proceedings as interested parties.
Today, APNU+AFC Attorney Senior Counsel Roysdale Force said the Judge is moving ahead with the case and has indicated that he will not stay the proceedings as the PPP seeks to move to the Appeal Court over the issue of jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, PPP Attorney Anil Nandlall explained that the matter before the Court questions the decisions of the Guyana Elections Commission and he believes the Act is clear on authority in that instance.
The Attorney for the Chief Elections Officer, Senior Counsel Neil Boston said he maintains that many of the arguments being put forward in the case are best suited for an election petition and not an injunction hearing.
Monday will mark four weeks since Guyanese went to the polls. Final results are still to be declared and as the Court hearings drag along, the Guyana Elections Commission has indicated that it will continue to wait on the Court’s decision before moving ahead with its work.
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