DPP discontinues private charge against GECOM chairman

GEORGETOWN (CMC):

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack has discontinued a private criminal charge brought against the chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh.

In a letter sent to the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan , the DPP said, “In exercise of the powers conferred on me by article 187 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, I hereby discontinue the charge in the above matter.”

Singh was due to reappear in the court this week on the charges filed by the private citizens – Lorraine Joseph, Keith Ondaan and Onita Walcott – alleging that the GECOM official had conducted herself improperly in office because she did not accept the first election report filed by GECOM Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield.

Last month, Lowenfield was himself granted bail after he appeared in court on fraud and conspiracy charges relating to the disputed March 2 regional and general elections.

Lowenfield was not required to plead to the indictable charges and will reappear in court on August 14.