Lawrence accuses GPF of harassment as election charges come in drips

Peoples National Congress Chairperson Volda Lawrence

Another slew of charges against People’s National Congress Chairman and APNU + AFC Coalition party agent for Region 4, Volda Lawrence, has prompted her to accuse the police of harassment.

Lawrence appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday morning, charged with forgery and conspiracy to defraud. Lawrence was charged jointly with Region 4 Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

Also appearing in court on similar charges was Carol Smith-Joseph, she too was charged jointly with Mingo.

Addressing supporters who gathered outside of the court in the sweltering heat, Lawrence chalked up this recent charge to harassment. “This ain’t got nothing to do with law and order,” Lawrence proclaimed. “I feel they got to please somebody,” she said.

Lawrence is one of two members of the People’s National Congress who have been charged in relation to the March 2nd General and Regional Elections.

Asked about the basis for the charges, Lawrence’s lawyer, Nigel Hughes, said the legal team “remains at a loss” to determine the basis for these other charges. “Same basis, whatever basis, of course we haven’t been served with statements in relation to these offences,” Hughes disclosed.

Hughes is on the record calling for any legal action against Lawrence and Mingo to be taken all at once. “Bringing them in drips every two days does not help,” Hughes told reporters outside the courts following Lawrence’s appearance.

Lawrence, Smith-Joseph and Mingo, along with several staffers of the Guyana Elections Commission who were charged, have been reporting to the police, some on a daily basis and others weekly, since the police announced ongoing investigations into the March elections.