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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Lawrence on $100,000 bail for alleged forgery -- summons issued for Mingo FORMER Government Minister and chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence, was, on Monday, August 24, 2020, released on $100,000 bail for uttering a forged document to defraud the public in relation to the March 2 elections. Lawrence appeared before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The private criminal charges was also filed against the Returning Officer (RO) for Region Four (Demer-
Some protesters outside of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court
ara-Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo. However he was not present in court since he was not served by the police. A summons was issued for him.
Particulars of the offence stated that Mingo, having been ‘procured’ by the accused Lawrence, on or about March 5, 2020, at
Massive infrastructure needed for house lot allocations — persons issued letters to inaccessible lands under previous administration MINISTER within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said the new administration has inherited several issues that must be resolved concerning the allocation and infrastructure of house lots. “Persons received letters saying they were allocated house lots in certain areas. The difficulty we have is that in those areas that persons were allocated, most have no infrastructure or they lack even basic infrastructure,” Minister Rodrigues told DPI in an interview on Monday. She pointed out that this means the ministry will have to embark on massive infrastructure to create these house lots. This, Minister Rodrigues said is adding to the backlog in the system. “Let me say, that house lots do not exist! There are just muddy plots of land that do not have any infrastructure....To compound this, many of the areas that have
been allocated, the transaction, the transfer of those lands has not been made to CH&PA. So, that is contributing to the backlog and unless we properly acquire those lands, do the infrastructural work which we are mandated to do and then properly allocate them, that’s the only way we can start to roll out our programme.” Basic infrastructure, such as water, electricity and roads to create access to those plots of land will have to be installed. “We have to identify areas that are currently controlled by CH&PA [Central Housing and Planning Authority] and begin infrastructure in those areas. [Therefore] to deliver on our promise, we have to now look for additional areas, the land we have to first acquire and then carry out infrastructural work before we can allocate those lands and we will remain steadfast to that commitment,” Minister Ro-
drigues emphasised. Because persons were issued letters to inaccessible lands, under the previous administration, the Housing Ministry will now have to put the allocation of house lots on hold, while the necessary groundwork is done to allow persons to be properly allocated so they can begin building their homes. Minister Rodrigues assured that the ministry is currently targeting the preparation of lands. She reminded that President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, once worked in the housing sector. As such, “We have to work closely with him because we can draw from his experience while he was minister of housing and water. So, citizens can rest assured that we remain committed despite the challenges we face.”
Hadfield and High Streets, Georgetown, uttered to the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, a Form 24 Representation of the People Act Regional Elections Election Return, dated March 5, 2020, knowing same to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of the State of Guyana. The charges alleged that Mingo and Minster Lawrence colluded to forge that Form 24 document. Lawrence’s signature was affixed to the said document, which had shown a win for the A Partnership for National Unity plus the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC). Lawrence was represented by attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes and James Bond. She was released on $100,000 bail and the case was adjourned until September 11, 2020. Evidence in the case
will be led by special prosecutor in the case, Glenn Hanoman. Outside of the court, despite the Coronavirus (Covid-19) guidelines serveral supporters of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) were protesting for the charges to be dropped against Lawrence. In March, the now Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, filed criminal charges, contending that Mingo and Lawrence uttered a forged document with the intent to defraud the public, contrary to section 278 of the criminal law Offences Act Chapter 8:01. Particulars of the offence stated that Mingo, having been ‘procured’ by the accused Lawrence, on or about March 5, 2020, at Hadfield and High Streets, Georgetown, uttered to the Chief Elections Officer of
the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, a Form 24 Representation of the People Act Regional Elections Election Return, dated March 5, 2020, knowing same to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of the State of Guyana. The charges alleged that Mingo and Minster Lawrence colluded to forge that Form 24 document. Lawrence’s signature was affixed to the said document, which had shown a win for the A Partnership for National Unity plus the Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC). However, when the PPP/C counted from the SOPs in its possession, it showed otherwise, while the international and local observers deemed the count not credible, and eventually a recount was done which declared PPP/C the winner.
