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FM
Former Member

Diaspora urges Granger 

to appoint GECOM Chair without any further delays

 
The Association of Concerned Guyanese – USA (ACG-USA) and the Patriotic Coalition for the Restoration of Democracy (PCRD) are calling upon President David Granger to appoint  a Chairperson for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from the third list of nominees proposed by the Opposition Leader, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, several weeks ago.
Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger during a previous engagement

“Like other patriotic organisations, the ACG-USA and the PCRD find that the latest list from the Hon. Bharrat Jagdeo has several individuals who not only meet the Constitutional  requirements but also meet the ‘fit and proper’ conditions,” the Diaspora groups said in a press release issued on Thursday.

With Local Government Elections due in 2018 and General Elections in 2020, the groups said, “Time is of the essence,” while highlighting that GECOM needs a leader to begin to ensure that all requisite preparations are in place for a free and fair elections in Guyana.

Moreover, the Associations call upon the “ABC” Countries to join with them to ensure that a Chairperson is appointed from the recent list of nominees submitted to the President, without any further delays.

“The ABC Countries are keen on promoting democracy around the world. We see no reason why that same interest is not applicable to Guyana. We hope that we can count on them for their full support to ensure that GECOM’s work is no longer hampered by the President’s inaction,” the groups said.

The Opposition Leader had submitted his first list of six nominees for the GECOM Chairperson position during the latter part of 2016. However, President Granger had maintained that the list was “unacceptable.”

The second list submitted by Jagdeo was also met with rejection, with Granger saying that the nominees did not satisfy the criteria.

The President had maintained that Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana prescribes for the Chairperson of the Elections Commission to be “a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court…or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person…”

As such, businessman Marcel Gaskin had moved to the Court to seek clarity on the Constitutional requirements for the appointment of a GECOM Chairperson.

Recently, acting Chief Justice Roxanne George ruled against President Granger’s interpretation of Guyana’s Constitution for the appointment of a GECOM chairperson, saying that there was no preference for judicial persons.

Nevertheless, during the latter part of last month, Jagdeo submitted his third list to the President Granger, who has since acknowledged receipt and told the media that he is in the process of examining the candidates.

In a press statement issued today (Thursday), Jagdeo confirmed that the political Opposition is still awaiting word on the latest submissions, after the first two were rejected by Granger. “Right now we are still waiting on word from the President…what we do in the future will depend on the answer we get from him,” he said.

The candidates on the third list include, Major General (Rtd) Joseph Singh, Teni Housty, Sanjeev Datadin, Ms Annette Arjoon-Martins, Onesi La Fleur and Krishnadatt Persaud.

Jagdeo has since made clear that the nominees meet the Constitutional requirements. “I believe that there are people (on the list) with the requisite qualifications…I am sure he (President Granger) could find one of the six who could be suitable,” he said.

GECOM has been without a chairman since February 2017, when Dr. Steve Surujbally, a veterinarian, retired.

Inewsguyanagy.com

 

Replies sorted oldest to newest

A message like this coming from the ACG only give Granger more ammunition to delay the process further. Why an Indian political organization think their voice matters to Granger?

FM

The ACG should haul their As*. They split up and many of them supported the AFC.

Why don't they phone up Moses and Ramjattan and ask them to tell Granger to speed up the process ?

Wait, these fools are scared that Ramjattan will tell them to Haul their As*. The ACG served it's useful purpose, they need to pack up.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Yuji, you made a good point in your second paragraph. Let's assume that you are Ramjattan in present day, and the supporters of AFC called to register their disappointments with the coalition, what would you tell them?

FM
Django posted:

Patriotic Coalition for the Restoration of Democracy (PCRD)


Cobra,

you know anything about this org ??

No, but I am sure to look it up. Where did you find it, any link?

FM
Cobra posted:
Django posted:

Patriotic Coalition for the Restoration of Democracy (PCRD)


Cobra,

you know anything about this org ??

No, but I am sure to look it up. Where did you find it, any link?

The Association of Concerned Guyanese – USA (ACG-USA) and the Patriotic Coalition for the Restoration of Democracy (PCRD) are calling upon President David Granger to appoint  a Chairperson for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)


I searched Google,nothing shows up,I am wondering if that is the recent org formed in NYC,

I had a link and lost it.

Django
Last edited by Django

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