Decision still to be made on GECOM Chairman – Harmon

President David Granger is still to make a decision on the selection of a new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Minister of State Joseph Harmon has said.

Last week, the Head of State received the Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the six persons recommended by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo; however, the nation still awaits word from the President regarding his decision.

Harmon said the process of selecting a Chairman which is required under the Constitution, commenced following word from the current Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally that he would be resigning. Harmon insisted that a particular process must be followed in the selection process.

“If he is not satisfied that the conditions as set out in the Constitution has not been met, then the President can ask the Leader of the Opposition to come back with a fresh list. If that is done and the President is still not satisfied, he can call the Opposition Leader for more consultation. If that still does not work, then the President can select a person he deems fit for the post.”

President Granger last month had said he needed to review the qualifications and skill sets of the nominees proposed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

President Granger said he requested of the Opposition Leader that the CV for the six persons he has nominated to fill the post of GECOM Chairman be provided to him so he can determine their suitability in accordance to the requirements outlined in the Constitution of Guyana.

Article 161 (2) states that “… the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a Judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such Judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly. Provided that if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds or has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge.”

Those nominated by the Opposition Leader are Executive Member of the Private Sector Commission Ramesh Dookhoo, former PSC Chairman and Army Chief Norman Mc Lean, Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, writer Rhyaan Shah, Professor James Rose and human rights and conflict resolution consultant Lawrence Latchmansingh.

Mc Lean served as a member of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration. He was also Commissioner of Police and Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) during the Forbes Burnham Administration.

Ram has worked for many years with the local Elections Observer Bureau and is a critic of both the past and present Governments. He was hired as a forensic auditor by the current Government.

Shah was the co-founder of the now defunct Guyana Indian Heritage Association, which the then People’s Progressive Party Government had neutralised by creating the Indian Arrival Committee, now renamed the Indian Action Committee.