Sonia Parag Testifies on Discrepancies in 2020 Election Tabulation

Minister Sonia Parag testified in court regarding discrepancies between spreadsheet numbers and the Statements of Poll during the 2020 elections. She detailed how the figures inconsiderately favored the APNU+AFC coalition and raised objections to each tabulated box. The trial continues with ongoing testimonies from relevant witnesses as multiple election officials face serious conspiracy charges.

In a significant development in the ongoing election fraud trial, Minister of Local Government Sonia Parag testified yesterday regarding discrepancies observed during the counting of votes from the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Parag, who represented the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as a polling agent, described a troubling situation where spreadsheet figures did not align with the official Statements of Poll (SOPs) that she had on hand.

She recounted her experience at the Region Four Command Centre on the night of March 4, 2020, where she noticed glaring inconsistencies between the votes allegedly being counted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) staff and the SOPs she possessed. Parag identified Election Officer Michelle Miller, who is currently among the accused, as the official reading the numbers from an inconsistent spreadsheet. “From Box 4001, the number that Miss Michelle Miller called, I compared it with the number that I had… and it did not match,” Parag asserted.

Parag went on to explain that these irregularities seemed to disproportionately benefit the then-ruling A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition. “The numbers that were being called by Michelle Miller were actually adding votes for the APNU+AFC and deducting votes for the PPP,” she stated, reinforcing concerns over the integrity of the electoral process. She indicated that she raised objections for every box tabulated between 4001 and 4021, insisting that the figures did not match the SOPs.

Interestingly, Parag also noted the involvement of fellow party agent and current Minister Kwame McCoy in raising these objections. During the proceedings, another party agent requested the use of SOPs instead of the disputed spreadsheet. Notably, Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, who is also facing charges, was present and dismissed the concerns, claiming that the spreadsheet figures corresponded with the SOPs, a statement met with skepticism by the observers present.

After intervention by Guyana Bar Association President Teni Housty, the use of SOPs was finally agreed upon, resulting in figures that matched what was expected. However, the tabulation process soon encountered delays, as the Election Officer reportedly slowed down the work and subsequently claimed fatigue, which led to a suspension of the counting.

Parag testified further that following the events of March 4, the tabulation was halted entirely the next day, despite GECOM’s initial assurance to continue. Instead, she reported an evacuation of the center due to a bomb threat, which she described as unfounded. Parag expressed frustration with how the situation evolved, noting that Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers was responsible for this evacuation order.

On the following day, when Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo attempted to declare results before the counting was completed, Parag and others firmly objected. “You cannot do this Mr. Mingo, you cannot do this, the tabulation exercise is not completed for Region 4,” she recounted, emphasizing the premature nature of his declaration.

The trial continues to evolve, with complications arising from previous delays, including the recovery of the prior magistrate who was ill. Today, the prosecution is set to call their next witness, Kian Jabour, in this ongoing controversial case, which includes charges against high-profile individuals such as Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo, among others, all dealing with allegations of conspiracy surrounding the 2020 elections.

The testimony from Minister Sonia Parag has highlighted substantial discrepancies in the vote tabulation process during the 2020 elections, raising serious questions about the integrity of the electoral results. With multiple officials currently facing charges and the prosecution continuing to gather witnesses, the case remains under intense scrutiny as it progresses in Georgetown’s court system. Upcoming testimonies will likely further shed light on the alleged electoral fraud at play.

Original Source: www.stabroeknews.com