Jagdeo ready to meet President ‘anytime on daily basis’ to appoint new GECOM Chair

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has officially responded to President David Granger’s invitation for a meeting, noting that he is prepared to meet with him “at any time, and, on a daily basis if needs be, to address the appointment of a new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission consistent with the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice on June 18, 2019.”

The letter was addressed to Director of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon and was released to the media Tuesday night by the Office of the Opposition Leader.

One week after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that his appointment was unconstitutional, Justice (Rt’d) James Patterson left his post as Chairman of GECOM effective June 24.

The CCJ ruled that the process used by President Granger to appoint Patterson was flawed and breached the constitution.

Patterson was appointed 19th October 2017, pursuant to proviso of Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.

Article 161 (2) provides for the appointment of a Chairman based on a process in consensual process in which a list of six persons, “not unacceptable to the president,” is submitted by the opposition leader.

The proviso allows for the appointment to be made unilaterally, where the opposition leader fails to submit a list “as provided for.”

Jagdeo submitted three lists, which were all rejected by Granger.