The rot spreads…

…to GECOM’s CEO
While all eyes have been focused on the Chairman of GECOM, James Patterson, as the epicentre of whatever scam Granger and cohorts in the PNC wanted to pull in the next elections – which necessitated them dragging it out as long as possible – the CEO, Keith Lowenfield, had slipped under the radar. Of course, there was the nasty stench back in 2015 when, just before the elections, the fella insisted as to how he absolutely had to have $100 million of high frequency radio sets to bring off the elections.
He ignored the authorised dealer for the radios, went to a favoured supplier of everything to GECOM – including the kitchen sink –and bought the radios at seven times the standard price – $2 million a pop!! The thing was – to add insult to injury (to the Guyanese taxpayers’ pocketbooks) – the radios were never ever used and were later found to be mostly unserviceable!! There’d also been the matter of $82million worth of office supplies from one supplier, which he’d cannily split into several contracts under $15 million each – the standard ploy to escape from having the Cabinet approving them. In the supplies were pliers that cost $6000 each!!
Anyhow, Lowenfield’s name next surfaced when the PPP went to the ERC and pointed out that 85% of the employees at the Secretariat were from one ethnic group – the one who comprises of traditional supporters of the PNC. While Patterson took the flak for not providing info on the Commission’s hiring practices, insiders pointed out that all the tests for hiring staff passed through Lowenfield’s hands and it’s he who decides who passes or who fails!! No one can enter the kingdom of the GECOM Secretariat but through the personage of ex-Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Keith Lowenfield!!
And we arrive at the present imbroglio in which Lowenfield suddenly unearthed (or conjured up?) an order supposedly issued by Patterson since June 11 for House-to-House Registration to begin on July 20. Even though the order was claimed to be gazetted, no one had seen it until July 18 – two days before the contested event was supposed to begin!! Lowenstein had ignored GECOM’s legal Counsel’s advice that a house-to-house registration was totally unnecessary to have a clean list and comply with the CCJ ruling.
But lo and behold – it had to be a miracle! – he asked the council as to whether Patterson’s alleged June 11 order was valid and he claimed she said “yes!” since the CCJ’s definitive ruling disqualifying Patterson hadn’t been delivered till June 18! And her word was now gospel to Lowenstein!
Never mind, Patterson’s status had been on “pause” and shouldn’t have made any major decisions!!

…in Caricom
No Guyanese can forget Caricom’s studied silence during the 1970’s and 80’s when the PNC entrenched their dictatorship. Seems we’re gonna have a repeat performance as Granger keeps his promise to “fulfil the legacy” of Burnham. Presumably responding to Opposition Leader Jagdeo’s complaint that Caricom is mute as the PNC Government outrageously flouts the CCJ’s judgement and consequential orders, Caricom SG Irwin LaRocque finally offered a comment.
If you thought it was on the substantive issues, you just wasted a thought, dear reader!! La Roque merely set out three conditions before Caricom would deign to comment substantively. To wit, “if the democratic and judicial processes break down and if both parties – Government and Opposition – deem it necessary”. In other words they’ll sit on the side-lines and twiddle their thumbs unless we become another Haiti!! There, if anyone “breaks wind” in Port-au-Prince too loudly, a note verbal is dashed off!!
When Caricom condemned the US for “interfering” in Haiti, we wonder if Maduro and Guaido “deemed it necessary”??

…in trade unions
The TUC called the PPP’s call for Guyanese to boycott the unilaterally imposed H-t-H process “backward” because that’ll infringe on their franchise –  won by stalwarts like Critchlow.
Didn’t Critchlow balk when it came to Indians being allowed to vote?