Returning Officer produces 247 Statements Of Poll in Court
by George Barclay
IN keeping with a request from Respondent Saphier Husain, Returning Officer of Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), Mr Gurdat Persaud yesterday produced 247 Statements Of Poll (SOP) that were in his possession since polling day. Mr Husain was cross-examining the witness last Friday when through the Court, he requested that Persaud be asked to bring the Statements of Poll to Court for inspection and examination purposes. The judge had granted the request, resulting in the witness turning up with the 247 signed and unsigned Statements Of Poll, copies of which had already been admitted in evidence. Mr Husain then switched his examination from Statements of Poll to ballot papers. He enquired from the witness the reasons why certain ballot papers did not have the official stamps and were treated as rejected ballots. To this the witness replied, "That might have been due to an error by the presiding officer." Counsel, noting that votes without the official stamp were treated as rejected votes, wanted to know whether the act of omission, that is the Returning Officer not putting on the six-digit stamp, was intentional. Witness told him, "Although there was room for that, I do not think the omission was intentional." Mr Persaud is the second witness to be called before Justice Claudette Singh to testify on behalf of Chief Elections Officer, Mr Stanley Singh, at the hearing of the Elections Petition brought by Esther Perreira of Lot 75 South Sophia. The first witness was Nelson Bakker, the Returning Officer of Region Ten. Mr Doodnauth Singh, Chairman of the Elections Commission is appearing for the Chief Elections Officer. On the resumption yesterday, the witness was cross-examined by Mr Rex McKay SC, who is appearing for Respondent Desmond Hoyte. In answer to questions, witness said that he had not read the regulations for the elections as related to the security of the ballot boxes. But witness denied a suggestion that it will be correct to say that he had no training in relation to the proper storage of the ballot boxes. Witness, who in his earlier evidence had said that the ballot boxes in his district were stored in the offices of his deputies, said in answer to a question from McKay that the Elections Commission had never told him that the ballot boxes should be stored at the Police Station. Witness added, "It was my decision to keep the ballot boxes where I thought fit." Witness said that he had informed the Elections Commission about the places he had intended to store the ballot boxes and they had concurred. He, however, denied a suggestion that the Elections Commission was aiding and abetting an unlawful act. Witness answered that following the elections he learnt from the press that there were missing statements of poll. Asked whether he had read the Audit Report page 29, witness answered in the affirmative. On being shown the report, witness agreed that the report carried an account that about 45,275 persons in Regions Two, Four, Six and Seven had voted without ID Cards. Witness agreed that if the report was true it would be a flagrant disregard of the instructions given by the Elections Commission, which had directed that, "No ID card, no vote." Perreira, an elector of Lot 75 South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, wants Justice Singh to invalidate the outcome of the 1997 poll. The petitioner is alleging that the process was so flawed it cannot be said to accurately reflect the will of the electorate. In her quest, Perreira has cited President Janet Jagan of the People's Progressive Party/Civic governing alliance and PNC Leader Desmond Hoyte, among the List Representatives of contesting political parties. But, all of the latter, except Hamilton Guyana (AGGG), have pledged to abide by the ruling in this case which continues today.
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