The trial concerning alleged electoral fraud witnessed a notable incident this morning when Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, the wife of Communications Consultant Christopher “Kit” Nascimento, was ordered out of the courtroom. This occurred while Nascimento was testifying in the ongoing case.
Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty issued the order after Madhoo-Nascimento was accused of attempting to assist her husband in identifying one of the accused from her seat during his testimony.
Ninety-three-year-old Kit Nascimento took the stand as a witness, having served as an observer for the Private Sector Commission during the 2020 elections. While testifying, he struggled to identify the APNU+AFC representative present at the Region Four Command Centre on March 13, 2020, when the alleged fraud took place.
“I am unable to identify the person, clearly and truthfully,” Nascimento stated after walking towards the area where the accused were seated. He later identified Carol Smith-Joseph as the APNU+AFC representative who had urged the Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, to proceed with the tabulation, despite objections from PPP/C representatives.
However, during a second opportunity to identify Smith-Joseph in the courtroom, Nascimento indicated that he could not see her, despite her being seated among the accused. It was at this moment that his wife was observed directing him on where to look, prompting Defence Attorney Eusi Anderson to raise an objection. “Might the record reflect that the wife of the witness was pointing in a particular direction at a crucial time in the evidence,” Anderson stated.
Following this, Madhoo-Nascimento was instructed to leave the courtroom, allowing Nascimento to continue his testimony without further interruption.
Earlier in his testimony, Nascimento described his visit to the GECOM Command Centre on March 4, 2020, where he observed representatives from various political parties and members of the Diplomatic Corps, including the then US Ambassador and British High Commissioner. He recounted the tensions during the tabulation process, noting that PPP/C representatives objected to the use of a spreadsheet and insisted on the use of Statements of Poll (SOPs).
Defence Attorney Darren Wade challenged Nascimento’s authority to comment on SOPs, but Nascimento maintained his familiarity with the document type, recalling how the British High Commissioner had shown him an SOP that contradicted the figures being reported.
As the testimony progressed, Nascimento alleged that Keith Lowenfield, the then Chief Elections Officer, had intervened during the tabulation, highlighting discrepancies in the reported numbers.
In a surprising turn, Nascimento expressed his shock at the attempt by the Returning Officer to declare the election results despite the ongoing objections and incomplete count. “I was astonished because I knew that the count had not been completed,” he said, referencing the uproar from PPP/C agents, including prominent figures like Bharrat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali.
Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes later questioned Nascimento regarding the identity of the APNU+AFC representatives and whether he possessed any supporting documentation or video evidence for his claims, to which Nascimento responded negatively.
The trial continues as the courtroom awaits further developments.
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