By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The high-stakes 2020 Election Fraud Trial reached a pivotal moment on Thursday, February 26, 2026, as former Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn took the witness stand. In a detailed and often tense testimony before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, Benn recounted the “mayhem” inside the GECOM command center, describing how a smooth election day devolved into a historic collapse of the tabulation process.
Benn’s evidence centered on the specific discrepancies in Region Four—the most contentious district of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.
The “Spreadsheet” Controversy
Benn testified that the primary source of the conflict began on March 3, 2020, during the inputting of data at the Ashmins Building in Georgetown.
- Data Discrepancies: Benn told the court that as a GECOM official entered numbers into a computer displayed on a large screen, party agents immediately flagged that the figures did not align with their official Statements of Poll (SOPs).
- The Mingo Departure: Tensions spiked when the then-Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, left the building citing illness, which Benn claims brought the legitimate tabulation to a standstill.
- Shift to Spreadsheets: Upon Mingo’s return on March 4, GECOM staff allegedly abandoned the SOP-by-SOP verification in favor of a spreadsheet. Benn noted that this move exacerbated discrepancies and led to a “uproar” within the command center.
The Collapse: International Observers Walk Out
By March 5, 2020, the situation reached a breaking point. Benn described the atmosphere as one of “shouting and disorder.”
- Observer Exit: According to the witness, the process became so compromised that international observers walked out, signaling the effective collapse of the tabulation’s credibility.
- The “Staircase” Declaration: Amidst the chaos, Mingo reportedly attempted to declare the results for Region Four while standing atop a staircase in the command center. Benn recalled police eventually intervening and escorting Mingo out as the declaration was met with loud protests.
Assault on Neutrality: The GECOM Chair
Perhaps the most striking part of Benn’s testimony involved the treatment of the GECOM Chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh.
- The Doorway Stand: Benn alleged that an APNU-AFC Commissioner physically blocked the Chairperson from leaving her room by standing in the doorway.
- The Struggle: He described a “brief struggle” before she was able to exit the room. Benn confirmed he had taken photographs during these disputes, which were presented to the court.
The Accused & Next Steps
The trial continues to scrutinize 19 conspiracy charges against a “who’s who” of the 2020 election cycle, including:
- Keith Lowenfield (Former CEO)
- Roxanne Myers (Former DCEO)
- Clairmont Mingo (Former Region 4 RO)
- Volda Lawrence (Former PNCR Chair)
- Carol Smith-Joseph (PNCR Activist)
Robeson Benn is expected to return to court today, Friday, February 27, to continue his testimony and face cross-examination.
