Contempt case against GECOM Chair, CEO and Region Four RO withdrawn for “deficient” evidence

—Chief Justice awards $450,000 to defendants

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, June 11, 2020

The lack of sufficient evidence by Attorney Anil Nandlall this morning saw the withdrawal of his contempt of court case against GECOM’s Chair Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, its Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo.

This development caused Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George to reprimand the attorney for wasting the court’s time and awarding a cost of $450,000 to the defendants, from the estate of Reaz Holladar .

The case which was heard virtually this morning was thrown out by the Chief Justice, who said that the “thin” and “very, very deficient” evidence presented by Nandlall could not see the process through.

The now-deceased Holladar, through his attorney Nandlall, had brought the allegation to the High Court that the Returning Officer did not follow a court order of March 11 to display the Statements of Poll (SOP’s) during the tabulation of the Region Four votes. The contention was too that the RO was being guided by the GECOM officials.

But GECOM’s attorney Neil Boston today argued that the allegations were damning, especially since there was no evidence to support such claims.

According to the Chief Justice, Nandlall was fully aware that he did not have sufficient evidence to pursue the case when he approached the court with the matter. She said she had asked, on several occasions if the plaintiff was ready to proceed with the matter and was always informed in the affirmative.

“Do you come to court and ask for somebody to be imprisoned on thin evidence?” the Chief Justice queried, while not requiring a response.

With Holladar being deceased, Nandlall sought the permission of the court to have   Padmini Bhiro be the administrator of his estate.