Suitable person for GECOM chairmanship exists says Granger amidst Opposition’s concerns

By Stacy Carmichael-James

Despite the Opposition’s difficulty in finding nominees to fit the criteria outlined by President David Granger for the position of Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, the President is maintaining that such a person exists.

President Granger today (Thursday, March 30, 2017) told members of the media, “I am sure if they search they will find people of integrity and impartiality there are lots of them around…if you read the Constitutional provision I’m sure you would agree with me that the clause or the Article was written in a way to emphasize the qualities which I ask for.”

On Wednesday the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) told members that some Civil Society Organizations the party has consulted concerning suitable nominees for the GECOM chairmanship are finding it difficult to come up with names.

The Party is contending that the criteria outlined by the President extend beyond what the Constitution stipulates.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira said “even when they come up with the names not one name can fulfill the entire criteria …the one about electoral knowledge and being able to deal with civil jurisdictions, there are many people you can come up with who can fulfill the latter but they don’t have the former…a number of people are saying we’re having difficulties.”

The PPP’s Chief Whip said those groups were asked to express these difficulties in writing, but she maintained that the criteria put great duress to find the “superman” the President is asking for.