Place for GECOM honeymooning staff will be determined by the court

Dear Editor,
It is difficult for one to fathom the orchestrated fraudulent, illusionary, and irrational mindset of persons in the top hierarchy of the Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). In the roll-out of activities leading up to and following the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections, Guyanese people and the world witnessed what seemingly, was the indoctrination of a unique brand which created, re-enforced, and realised in the players; the decisions that are so ruthlessly demonic, sacrificial and suicidal.
The resulting embarrassing fiasco was unlike any witnessed by Elections Commission officials in this hemisphere for decades. One must therefore dig deeper, leaving no stones unturned in exorcising the planted roots of such evils and mistrust to ensure that they never flourish again. The fertilisation of the seeds of decay was given a significant boost when the sanctimonious conductor, Mr Granger, unilaterally appointed octogenarian James Paterson as the Chairman of GECOM.
Although Mr Patterson as Chairman was eventually and justifiably kicked into oblivion by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), his role in the vile plot was rooted. Decisions he made were, or could not be undone, and these among others seems to have evoked the spirits of the 1970s and 80s unpopular Chairman Harry Bollers, whose role in the PNC’s perpetual rigging should not be forgotten. In the absence of, and even with the appointment of Mr Patterson’s replacement Madam Claudette Singh, CEO Mr Lowenfield acted with impunity, usurping the authority of the Commission and doing his own thing in advancing the PNC’s directives.
It will remain a figment of our imagination, but one on the dark-grey side, regarding what would have happened to this country if Patterson was allowed to continue. In particular, he emboldened the likes of Vincent Alexander and CEO Keith Lowenfield in their partisan displays, while shifting the balance and parity of senior staff placement in GECOM. Perhaps the GECOM clan married by Patterson had planned a grand honeymoon session after their various roles were acted out to deliver a victory at all cost, to the David Granger-led APNU/AFC. They did not cater for the wider rejections by the international community and the ongoing investigations by the police which addresses their overwhelming public violations.
Many of the senior top-brass in the Secretariat have already been arrested and dragged to the courts to answer charges related to fraudulent practice which have served to derail public confidence in GECOM and strengthen the negative perception of the organisation. The staff has complained that some officials, although permanent staff, are not working or at work with no supervision and not doing anything. Others are coming and going as they please given that seniors have taken to hiding and genuine efforts by the police to reach them have been futile for quite some time.
In the case of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers, she seemed elusive while not being at her home or office. It raises the questions concerning her contractual obligations given her continuous absence from the workplace. It was after weeks of futile efforts to reach Myers, who was apparently on the run, the police decided to put out a wanted bulletin for her which yielded results as she eventually turned up to the CID accompanied by her lawyer.
According to a police media release, Roxanne Myers was arrested for the offence of conspiracy to defraud. Many current GECOM staff are also very emotional about the situation, as the leading members of the organisation are now under serious investigations, or already charged and placed before the courts. The severe uneasiness at GECOM is also linked to the fact that while election matters are currently a focus of the police investigators, there remain serious unanswered audit queries regarding spending and accountability. There is now a general public perception that GECOM is a corrupt place and further, that GECOM staff is corrupt. This justifies the need for a pedantic examination and the absolute cleansing of the organisation where persons are found to be culpable.
Fraud is Fraud! The world was looking on and it is public knowledge that GECOM senior staff and leaders of the PNC made desperate efforts to derail the elections. The PNC took full control of the hiring of key Elections Day staff and instructed some GECOM staff on how they were to influence the PNC plot. There are claims by some GECOM Presiding Officers of Mingo’s instructions not to put all the documents in the ballot boxes, but in separate packages which in fact, was a deliberate ploy for the PNC to question the results. Further, the PNC Commissioners tried all the supple and blatant tricks in the bag from the time the No-confidence Motion was passed in 2018.
There is no doubt that it was the five-months’ delay in frustrating the true results and the blatant hiding of their Statements of Polls, which enabled the Granger Government to keep their knees on the throats of our people. God bless the actions of the eminent and prestigious international observers along with a united Guyana in ensuring that the results of the true election were not derailed. The 2020 elections were indeed the mother of all elections and perhaps the first time that the world had to intervene, taking the bold stand which ensured that the peaceful voting process held in Guyana led to a smooth transformation of power.
Guyana’s 2020 lesson is indeed a revelation and testimony to the role of diplomats in advancing the democratic front and must be recognised and emulated. We must do so as we undertake the necessary constitutional reforms and the proper place for GECOM honeymooning staff is determined by the courts.

Sincerely,
Neil Kumar