…even as Volda Lawrence, Clairmont Mingo charged again for the same offence
Chairperson of the People’s national Congress and former Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, made another of what has become a pilgrimage to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court today. Again she was slapped with charges pertaining to electoral fraud.
Also appearing alongside her and charged with conspiracy was PNC activist, Carol Joseph.
Attorney at Law, Nigel Hughes, accompanied by attorney Darren Wade was later required to address the situation.
“Ms. Volda Lawrence, Mr. Clairmont Mingo and Ms. Carol Smith-Joseph were all charged. Ms. Volda Lawrence had one charge, Ms. Carol Smith-Joseph had three charges. Two were of conspiracy to defraud. She was jointly charged with Ms. Lawrence.
“Mr. Mingo had three charges. One of forgery for which he has been jointly charged with Ms. Joseph, and two others of conspiracy.”
This time the bail amount was $30,000 on each charge. The matter has been adjourned to October 28.
Mr. Hughes said that the charges are the same that have been applied. At the same time the defence has not seen any statements in relation to any of the charges.
“Both Ms. Lawrence and Ms. Joseph attended video-recorded interviews at which the same questions were asked of them previously.
“These were repeated yesterday. So one is at a loss to find out the basis for these charges, particularly when they are existing charges.
“Ms. Joseph is of course appearing before the court for the first time.”
Mr. Hughes said that today, like any other time when his clients have had to appear in court, he asked that for the purposes of efficiency the prosecution should bring all the charges at one time. This would allow for the defence to determine the most efficient way to have the charges heard by the different magistrates.
“Bringing them in drips every week or every two days does not help, particularly when you have reported to the courts that you have not completed your investigations.
“Our proposal was that they take a long date so when they are confident that they have concluded their investigations we would be aware of all the charges.
“At that stage we could sit down and decide which cases could go forward, which cases are not going forward and which witnesses are going to come.
“The present way in which they have elected to conduct this results in great inconvenience to all the people charged. Mr. Mingo has to travel from West Coast Berbice; Ms. Joseph, every time she has to go to the CID Headquarters at Eve Leary, she has to travel from West Coast Berbice.”
He said that this could be a burden, especially at this time of COVID. Organising the charges would be a help to these people, according to Mr. Hughes.
“Of course, if you complete your investigation, you have one mass interview, then they come to court to deal with the charges.
“These charges may be without foundation but we will address them at the time. But having them come every day, every two days every week; the administration probably has some other intent.” Ms. Lawrence was one frustrated woman. “Come back for Act 1; Scene 5. Come back before the Chief Magistrate. Today they read several charges against myself and my sister. And let me tell you the truth, I stop listening.
“Let them just do what they think they can continue to do here on earth and God would do the rest.”
But there was something upsetting amidst all the happenings. And these happenings involve the women employed by the Guyana Elections Commission.
“I was very touched when I heard they had been reporting to CID since August 26. One has a sick mother living way over the river. (This woman) got to come every day and report. That is money that she has to spend that she doesn’t have.
“This morning when the other name was calling in there, in court, she was in CID.”
The police had sent charges for this woman while they had her sitting at CID headquarters, Eve Leary. And there was evidence of continued harassment.
Ms. Lawrence said that those charged were requested to report to court for 9:00 this morning. The charges did not arrive until after 10:00.
“This is harassment. This is nothing to do with law and order and forgery and what else. This is just harassment.
“In my own purview, I feel that they got to please somebody so every other week they got to march us to CID.”
The matter has been adjourned
