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Jagdeo Submits Third List for GECOM Chairperson

 

Jagdeo submits list of GECOM nominees to President

 

 

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference today announced that he has submitted a third set of names to the President for the selection of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

 

“I am hopeful that he (President Granger) will choose one of the six persons to be the next Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission,” Mr. Jagdeo stated. He further explained, “particularly in light of the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag).”

Mr. Jagdeo did not reveal the names of the persons on the list but said that the Office of the Leader of the Opposition will be issuing a press statement later today with the names of the six persons.

When asked about the possibility of the list being rejected again, the Opposition Leader said that he does not want to speculate. “I do not want to speculate but I hope in light of the Chief Justice’s ruling that the Government will select someone from this,” he declared.

Notably, President David Granger appeared to have shunned the High Court interpretation of the Constitution on the appointment of a Chairman of GECOM. “The Chief Justice gave an interpretation based on her perception of the Law and I will continue to act in accordance with my perception of the Constitution; that is to say I will not appoint somebody who I do not consider fit and proper,” he argued.

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…”

Bibi Haniffa
Last edited by Bibi Haniffa
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