Beverly Critchlow appointed Assistant Chief Election Officer

Former Voter Registration Manager at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Beverly Critchlow was Tuesday appointed Assistant Chief Election Officer (ACEO).

Her appointment was supported by the three PPP/C nominated GECOM Commissioners – Sase Gunraj, Clement Rohee and Manoj Narayan but shunned by the APNU+AFC nominated Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman.

They all voted against her appointment and instead expressed confidence in Melanie Marshall who was earlier this year appointed as the commission’s Voter Registration Manager.

GECOM Chairman (retired) Justice Claudette Singh backed Critchlow for the appointment as ACEO.

She will now go on to support Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud and the wider GECOM Secretariat as preparations ramp up for the holding of Local Government Elections in the coming months.

In a telephone interview with the News Room Tuesday evening, Gunraj said he favoured Critchlow because of her experience in electoral management.

“She served in various capacities in GECOM.

“There were never any issues with her carrying out her functions,” Gunraj said.

He explained that as a consequence she enjoys his confidence.

Earlier in 2022, several persons were shortlisted for the post of Assistant Chief Elections Officer (ACEO), including Marshall.

She, however, secured the voter registration manager position and the position for ACEO was readvertised.

It was during the second round of applications that Critchlow applied and was later shortlisted.

There remain other outstanding vacancies at GECOM including the position of Deputy CEO.