Georgetown: People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairman and Former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence on Monday appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer to private criminal fraud charges.
The charges were filed in March by Charles Ramson Jr – who is now Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.
The charges were filed against the Lawrence and Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo in relation to the unverified declaration of results for Region Four.
They are accused of forging official electoral documents in an effort to defraud the country.
The particulars of the charge state that Mingo, having been procured by Lawrence on or about March 5 at the Command Centre for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on High and Hadfield Streets, uttered to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, the election results for Region Four, knowing it to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of Guyana.
Mingo did not make a court appearance because he was never served.
Private Prosecutor, Glenn Hanoman and State Counsel Tariq Mohammed told the court that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has taken over the charge based on complaints to the police.
Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan granted Lawrence bail of $100,000 and put down the case for September 11, 2020.
By that time, the State would be expected to disclose elements of its case to the Defence team headed by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes who frowned on the approach being taken.
He said the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence at the outset to file the charge but has now instructed the police to conduct a probe.
Meanwhile, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield made yet another court appearance on Monday where a decision regarding the continuation of the private criminal fraud charges against him was slated to be announced.
Lowenfield’s lawyer had requested that the charges be reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecution.
However, at court today, Lowenfield was told to return on September 11 for a decision. In the meantime, the charges against him remain.
Outside the court, over a 100 PNC/R supporters converged at police barricade. When the party’s chairman paid bail, several supporters took advantage of car that police allowed to enter and they followed to go in front of the court gate. Others were restrained by police.
Outside the courthouse, Ms. Lawrence said the charge against her was politically motivated. “This is another set of trumped up charges. I know personally that I have committed no crime. I have done absolutely nothing what I am accused of,” she said.
The former Health Minister said she had been in public at her then office and her then State-provided security had not been informed her that anyone had gone to her residence to deliver a summons.
She said the charge is aimed at incite, lay blame and humiliate her but “I am not going down; the truth will prevail.”
The protracted electoral process, which followed the March 2, General and Regional Elections, had “raised eyebrows” not just in Guyana, but internationally, and in order to ascertain exactly what caused the delay in the process, government has committed to launching a Commission of Inquiry (CoI).
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