Chief election officer’s lawyer concludes arguments on striking out elections petition

Attorney Roysdale Forde yesterday concluded his arguments on his motion for the elections petition filed by the opposition PPP/C’s Ganga Persaud to be struck out over the lack of material facts.

Forde is the attorney for Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, who has challenged the petition, which he has asked the court to strike out on the grounds that the substantive submissions disclose no reasonable cause of action.

After Forde wrapped his arguments before acting Chief Justice Ian Chang, the matter was adjourned to November 2nd at 10 am, when Persaud’s lawyer, former Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, is to respond.

Arguments on whether Persaud’s petition has material facts in order for the case to proceed commenced on September 22nd.

The matter is being heard in-chambers at the High Court, in George-town.

The Chief Justice has decided that he should first hear arguments regarding material facts as a prerequisite to determining whether, thereafter, any need would still exist for going into the substantive elections petition case.

In the petition, Persaud is calling on the court to declare the entire elections process flawed, and containing many procedural errors and so many instances of fraudulent and/or suspicions actions that “the results that have been derived from the process cannot be credibly deemed to represent accurately the will of the electorate.”

He also asked the court to order a recount of all ballots cast in the elections.

Local and international observers have declared the polls free and fair.