Trinidad-based Guyanese oppose GECOM unilateral appointment

Dear Editor,
Last week, I travelled around Trinidad interacting with Guyanese at various locations. There are thousands of Guyanese living in Trinidad doing varied jobs. A smaller number live in Tobago working as security guards or in small marketing businesses. Guyanese are gainfully employed in T&T. Many also own small businesses or are self-employed in various activities, including agriculture. They are very productive model farmers. Some are involved in trading, importing and redistribution of goods.
Guyanese Trinis think about their homeland and want to see it progress and develop. In my conversations with them, every Guyanese express grave concern about current events (rising crime, closure of sugar estates, increasing taxes, violations of the Constitution, racism, etc) in their homeland. They say they oppose the unilateral appointment by President David Granger of the Chairman of GECOM. They, like Guyanese in the US, Canada, and the UK, feel the unilateral appointment of the GECOM chair is a violation of the spirit of the Constitution. They feel this does not augur well for the future of democracy in their former homeland.
Guyanese Trinis feel the President should have appointed someone from the lists of nominees submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. They say the agreement entered into between the ruling and Opposition parties require that the President would appoint a GECOM chair from among the names submitted by the Opposition. They do not see any justification for the President to appoint an 84-year-old from his own party when the Constitution requires him to appoint a neutral person.
Guyanese Trinis point to several names among the 18 submitted by Jagdeo that would make an excellent Chair of GECOM. They express deep respect and admiration for Joe Singh, Chris Ram, Lawrence Latchmansingh, and a few others for their honesty and integrity. They say it is inexplicable why the President finds these men as not being fit and proper to serve as GECOM Chair. They are also disappointed that Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan have not spoken out against the President’s decision on the GECOM Chair and on his recent appointment to fill a commissioner vacancy at GECOM. Prime Minister Nagamootoo has lost respect among Guyanese and other Trinidadians who had looked up to him as a warrior and freedom fighter who fought the PNC for restoration of democracy in Guyana.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram