Information technology expert Aneal Giddings took his oath of office before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday as the new Deputy Chief Election Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Deputy Commissioner of Registration
After the swearing in at Court One in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Giddings told reporters that he intends to faithfully execute his duties to the best of abilities. Giddings was on Tuesday appointed following a majority vote at a statutory meeting of the Commission.
Giddings had served as the Information Technology Manager at GECOM. He said he is confident that his time spent in that role equipped him for the roles he is now undertaking.
“I think my actions before would speak for themselves. I have been with GECOM for quite some time.
“At no point in time was I ever cautioned or called out on misconduct at the level of the Commission from any superior and therefore I believe I will continue to strive to that level,” Giddings said.
Reaffirming his confidence in his posts, Giddings reminded that he has been at GECOM for the 2018 Local Government Elections and the 2020 General and Regional Elections and the national vote recount.
In addition, Giddings said he doesn’t expect any issues related to working along with the Commissioners and the secretariat.
“I do expect some ups and downs but at the end of the day, the Commission is a collective and it is headed by the Chairman. There are always debates but at the end of the day there is a decision made and that decision will direct myself on how to proceed.
“While I see some issues, I have no doubt that I will be able to proceed with what I need to do,” he said.
He was among four persons who were shortlisted for the post. The three other nominees were Melanie Marshall, Mohamed Arjoon and Deodat Persaud. The DCEO post has been vacant since August last year following the termination of former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and his deputy Roxanne Myers.
Both of their services were terminated based on the misconduct charges instituted against them stemming from the 2020 elections.
In its advertisement for the post, GECOM had listed that the DCEO will be responsible for ensuring that GECOM fulfills its mission of conducting all elections to the satisfaction of all stakeholders and that a comprehensive Voters Education Programme is conducted to facilitate all eligible and registered persons exercising their vote.
To fill the position, GECOM had said one is required to possess a Post Graduate Degree in Public Administration, Law, Management or a relevant discipline and possess six years of experience in a senior management position overseeing and directing diverse operations aimed at achieving targets within specific deadlines.
