Changing… GECOM?

In our dear land of Guyana, nary a day goes by we don’t have one political conundrum or another coming to the fore! Your humble Eyewitness sees this as political theatre – with its usual mix of comedy – even farce! – and tragedy!! So he’s got his popcorn to enjoy the show!! One concerns the institution in charge of elections – GECOM.
Less than two weeks after the September 1 elections, where Sanction Man’s WIN obliterated the PNC/APNU to become the major opposition party, he was asked his position on GECOM’s three Opposition Commissioners. He didn’t equivocate – as he usually does – but answered, “We expect them to do the honourable thing and resign, and we will approach him because, of course, we are the opposition, not Norton, so we’re expecting them to resign.”
Well, who told him to say that!!?? The loquacious Opposition Commissioner Vincent Alexander immediately “hopsed” him!! “No can do!!” he demurred. In his usual (painfully convoluted) style, he insisted he and his cohorts Trotman and Corbin are there for life!! Or until they, of their own free will, CHOOSE to resign…as several PPP-nominated commissioners have periodically done – to be replaced by their party!!
He cited Article 161 of the Constitution – which was inserted during the 2000 Constitutional changes to change the previously temporary nature of GECOM to a permanent one. Specifically, he invoked 161 (3) (B), which addresses Opposition-nominated Commissioners: “Three members to be appointed by the President in accordance with the advice of the opposition leader tendered after meaningful consultation with non-Governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.” It doesn’t talk about them being replaced!! So it would seem that Vincent might be right?!!
Well, Chair Claudette Singh doesn’t think so!! And this has led to a standoff!! She’s refused to convene a meeting of GECOM, claiming she’s waiting for the new Opposition Leader (presumptive), Sanction Man, to make his own nominations!! But Vincent had a riposte: “If she’s saying that there is a new leader of the opposition and therefore GECOM is not properly constituted, she herself is a nominee of that leader, and so if she is saying that, we call for meetings because GECOM is not properly constituted. Then, she herself cannot act in any capacity because her appointment takes a similar approach to our appointment. So that is the issue.”
So, is Claudette checkmated?? Not necessarily!! That the Commission was made permanent by Art. 161 doesn’t mean the INDIVIDUAL members are permanent!! Your Eyewitness thinks Sanction Man can submit his three names to Pressie – after consulting with Norton – for appointment.
With reference to the Chair, while he can also submit six names – one gotta be acceptable to the President!! Gotcha!!

…alliances
A lotta folks are complaining – including Mad Maduro – that while President Trump has Venezuela in his sights for drug trafficking to the States – as a form of hybrid warfare claiming thousands of American lives annually – the real culprit should be Colombia, which produces three-quarters of the cocaine in the world!! Well, the US knows that and has some six bases in Columbia from which they’ve assisted Columbian Governments for years to go after the drug producers and shippers. Without much success!! Columbia’s friendly Governments received the largest US funding in the hemisphere.
But the leftist Petro’s election in 2022 started to alter the equation, and his recent criticism of President Trump shooting cocaine-laden vessels – with some Columbian citizens – in the Caribbean seemed to’ve been the last straw! Trump dubbed Pero an “illegal drug leader” and said he’d raise tariffs on Columbia exports to the US – plus stop all funding!!
Petro’s retort, “You are rude and ignorant to Colombia, Mr Trump,” probably sealed his fate!!

…work practices
The Ministry of Public Service is now the “Ministry of Public Service, Government and Efficiency Implementation (MPSGEI)”. The Minister says he’ll fulfil his new mandate by focusing on new IT-driven work practices.
But will old dogs learn new tricks??