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By Mark DaCosta- The much-hyped 2020 Election alleged fraud trial, which was expected to resume today, Tuesday, September 17, after a month-long adjournment, has been postponed yet again, leaving many questioning the purpose of this prolonged spectacle. Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, who is reported to be unwell for the past 30 days, was once again absent, causing the trial to be further delayed until October 31. This trial has now become a never-ending saga, one that increasingly appears to serve the political agenda of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) rather than any genuine pursuit of justice.
Many Guyanese say that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C have been determined to drag former staffer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and Opposition figures through the mud, portraying them as masterminds of an alleged electoral conspiracy. However, with each delay, the case looks more like a political witch hunt designed to keep the opposition and former GECOM staffer tied up in legal battles.
“One has to wonder whether Mr. Jagdeo is quietly seething as yet another adjournment, which means his quest to tarnish some faces another setback. After all, Mr. Jagdeo’s ambitions to politically cripple his adversaries seem to depend on the successful outcome of this trial,” said one analyst.
This trial, which targets persons from the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, has been dragging on for years with little to show for it.
Facing charges related to the alleged rigging of the 2020 General and Regional Elections are: former Health Minister under the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government, Volda Lawrence; former Elections Officer (CEO) at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield; former Deputy CEO at GECOM, Roxanne Myers; former District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo; and GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller; and Carol Smith-Joseph, People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) member.
The repeated delays, say some observers, combined with the lack of any real progress in court, suggest that the PPP/C is less interested in justice and more focused on keeping their political opponents ensnared in legal turmoil. Jagdeo, ever the strategic political operator, knows full well that a drawn-out trial works to his advantage. With every adjournment, the accused remain bogged down in court proceedings.
But for all of Jagdeo’s efforts, some observers say, the continued postponements must be a source of frustration. His desire to see opposition leaders discredited in the eyes of the public is being hampered by these delays, and it’s beginning to look like the PPP/C may never see the courtroom victory they so desperately crave.
Analysts note that it’s hard to ignore the political convenience of this trial’s sluggish pace. For the PPP/C, every day that Mingo, Lowenfield, and their fellow accused are caught up in legal drama is another day the opposition can’t focus on holding the government accountable.
Despite all the fanfare surrounding the case, the prosecution has only managed to call two witnesses to the stand so far. Among them is Minister Sonia Parag, whose testimony was partially struck from the record for mentioning an individual not connected to the case. Such missteps raise questions about the strength of the PPP/C’s case.
The sluggish progress suggests it may find favour with the PPP/C. By keeping the former GECOM staffer and leaders of the opposition tangled in legal battles, the ruling party could continue to posture as the defenders of democracy while ensuring that former state officials are denied opportunities for professional development and political opponents remain distracted and weakened. Meanwhile, Jagdeo and his party enjoy the advantage of a fractured opposition, unable to fully focus on challenging the government’s excesses.
This latest adjournment is just another chapter in a political drama that shows no sign of ending. The trial was initially delayed in August when Magistrate Daly took sick leave, and now, a month later, the case has been pushed back yet again.
For Bharrat Jagdeo, each delay is a bittersweet victory. On the one hand, the trial’s slow pace ensures that his political enemies remain in the public eye, constantly linked to allegations of fraud and corruption. On the other hand, the lack of any decisive legal outcome means the PPP/C’s claims of electoral misconduct are starting to wear thin.
At this point, the public is left wondering whether this trial will ever reach a conclusion—or if it was never really meant to. As long as the case continues to drag on, the PPP/C can maintain its narrative of righteous indignation while keeping the opposition sidelined. Jagdeo may be frustrated by the delays, but the longer the opposition remains mired in legal battles, the easier it becomes for the PPP/C to govern unchallenged.
As the public grows increasingly weary of the delays and political grandstanding, one thing is certain, say some observers: this trial is no longer about justice. It’s about keeping the opposition under constant pressure, all while the PPP/C reaps the benefits of a divided and distracted opposition. Whether the case will ever reach a conclusion is anyone’s guess, but for now, the PPP/C’s political theatre continues, with no end in sight.
