Opposition Leader shortlists eight new persons for GECOM Chair

By Stacy Carmichael-James

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Bharrat Jagdeo says the consultations regarding possible candidates for the chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission are not yet completed.

The PPP General Secretary told reporters during his Tuesday press conference that some eight persons were shortlisted, however, some have asked for time to decide, while one other person has already declined.

” Once I finish the consultations with the people… I will have to give some people some time, some people would say yes immediately, some others would say give me a couple of days, ” Jagdeo reasoned.

He committed that as soon as the consultations are completed a list with the Opposition’s choice of potential persons to fill the position of GECOM Chairperson would be submitted to the President.

The PPP General Secretary did not want to restrict himself to a timeline for this to be completed on the basis that the selected persons will need varying time spans for consideration, however, he remains hopeful that possibly in the new week the list could be submitted.

He noted that the persons were informed of the urgency.  According to him, if more persons are needed based on the responses, the party can always revert to the previous list submitted by Civil society to shortlist more persons.

The initial list submitted by the PPP General Secretary was refused by President David Granger, who noted that the persons did not adequately satisfy the criteria.

The President listed additional qualities the person should possess, however, this did not resonate with the PPP, which is contending that these qualities go beyond what the Constitution requires.