Benn admits making no notes of alleged 2020 election discrepancies during testy hearing

Sep 18, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Former GECOM Commissioner and former Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Defense Counsel Nigel Hughes on Thursday as he was pressed over discrepancies he said he observed during the 2020 election tabulation at Ashmin’s Building. Benn, who served on the commission during the 2020 General and Regional Elections, was returning to the stand in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to face cross-examination following his earlier testimony. Benn was cross examined on Thursday because Anneal Giddings, former IT manager, expressed through the Prosecutors that he was unavailable due to personal matters.

The courtroom friction escalated when Benn repeatedly refused to answer a series of questions posed by Hughes concerning whether he had documented the discrepancies he claimed occurred, insisting instead that the matter was public knowledge. “How many times do you want me to answer the question? I have answered it four times already,” Benn told Hughes.

Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty immediately intervened, repeatedly cautioning Benn regarding his conduct and informing him that it was not his place to question defense counsel. Magistrate McGusty observed that the witness seemed mistaken as to his purpose in the court, calling on the prosecution to advise him on his conduct. Lead Prosecutor Darshan Ramdani rose in response, telling the court that witnesses sometimes feel so strongly about a matter that their emotions come out. However, Magistrate McGusty redirected the prosecution’s attention to Section 64 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Magistrates) Act and Section 22 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) Act.

Section 64 empowers the court to remove and detain individuals guilty of grave misconduct or willfully insulting a Magistrate, while Section 22 allows the Court to adjourn proceedings for up to eight days and commit a witness to prison if they refuse to answer questions without sufficient cause. Appearing virtually, Defense Attorney Ronald Daniels expressed frustration over Benn’s conduct, calling it unacceptable. Daniels told the court that Benn was being patently disrespectful to counsel and the court, arguing that emotional flaring cannot excuse such behaviour. Following further refusals to answer, Magistrate McGusty issued another formal warning to the witness.

Under continued questioning by Hughes, Benn admitted that while he witnessed discrepancies during the 2020 election tabulation at Ashmin’s Building, he did not document any of them or make written notes. Benn also testified that he requested then-Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield to “sort out” issues involving former GECOM staffer Enrique Livan, but clarified after repeated questioning that this was a request rather than an instruction for a formal audit.

During cross-examination on the security features of the ballots and election documents, Hughes pressed Benn on the presence and verification of secret watermarks examined under ultraviolet (UV) light, which each political party and the Chief Elections Officer held to verify authentic Statements of Poll (SOPs). Benn noted that full scans were performed for watermarks and he did not recall any instances where a required watermark was missing.

Regarding the GECOM server, Benn acknowledged learning belatedly that former IT Manager Aneal Giddings had removed the server from the Tabulation Centre, but stated he was unaware of any subsequent audit. When questioned on why he refused police orders to evacuate the tabulation building during a security incident, Benn claimed authority as a GECOM Commissioner under the Constitution.

During cross-examination by Defense Counsel Dr. Dexter Todd, focus turned to photographic exhibits M1 through M5 submitted to the court. Dr. Todd systematically questioned Benn on whether any of the photos depicted individuals actively comparing or preparing spreadsheets. After extensive questioning regarding what was visible in the images, Benn conceded that the photos themselves did not show any of the accused persons preparing or comparing the questioned spreadsheets.

Those charged include former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; former District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers; former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence; APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith Joseph; and former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Michelle Miller, and Denise Babb-Cummings. The accused allegedly conspired between 2^nd March and 2^nd August, 2020, to manipulate election results at the Ashmins Building in Georgetown, thereby defrauding electors across Guyana.

The trial continues today.

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• 2020 election, IT Manager, Robeson Benn

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