― Jagdeo agrees to provide as soon as possible
As the public waited with bated breath for the announcement of a new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), President David Granger explained that he needed to review the qualifications and skillsets of the nominees proposed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.
Bharrat Jagdeo
President Granger said he requested of the Opposition Leader that the Curriculum Vitae 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.
“I replied to him right away, because although those six names might be known to the public, I could not be sure that their nominations were in accordance with the Constitution. I have asked him to let me have copies of the Curriculum Vitae of each one so that it can guide me in making my decision. So that is where we are now and I would say that the ball is in his court. I would say let me have the résumé for the persons so we can go ahead with this process. It is very important that we have a Chairman as early as possible,” the President said.
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.”
The Constitution also outlines that the post of GECOM Chairman must be a full-time appointment and the holder must not engage in any form of employment.
Those nominated by the Opposition Leader are Executive Member of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) 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.
Jagdeo said these individuals were identified following widespread consultations with civil society.
“I think they all are strong people and courageous people and people who have demonstrated that they are prepared to serve the country’s interest, not partisan interest, so that is my sense. I did not go into any great detail about their management styles or anything of that sort, but their names came forward from civil society,” he said.
Once there is no objection to the names, the Head of State will move ahead with the selection process.
If, however, the President believes the nominees are not suitable to occupy the post of GECOM Chairman, then the Opposition Leader will have to return to the drawing board.
Dookhoo is a business executive and former President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA). He currently serves as President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce.
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 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 (GIHA), which the then PPP Government had neutralised by creating the Indian Arrival Committee, now renamed the Indian Action Committee.
The former GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, officially demitted office on November 30 after 15 years of holding the post.
Meanwhile, Jagdeo told online news agency Citizens Report that he has no problem in submitting the CVs of his nominees to President Granger, and assured that it would be done as soon as possible.
