Gunraj blasts PNCR, APNU-nominated commissioners after attack on GECOM Chair 

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner Sase Gunraj castigated those behind an attack launched by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) on GECOM Chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh.

Gunraj is a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) nominated Commissioner.

In a release, the PNCR said the Chairwoman was biased because of her vote in favour of hiring two individuals proposed for the roles of Civic and Voter Education Manager, and Logistics Manager. Those individuals are Delon Clarke and Nardeo Persaud.

The PNCR believed individuals with “inferior qualifications” were chosen and that the Chairwoman sided with Gunraj and the two other PPP-nominated Commissioners.

Gunraj, however, took much umbrage to the statements from the opposition party. He affirmed that the candidates had the requisite qualifications and experience needed for their roles. Gunraj also noted both individuals served the Commission for years without issue.

“It is rather ironic that the PNC/R has launched an attack on the Chairman of GECOM in relation to her recent vote to appoint a new Civic and Voter Education Manager and a new Logistics Manager,” he said in his own release.

He added, “Differences of opinion on suitable candidates to fill vacancies at the Commission is not new. In fact, for as long as I can recall, there has hardly been a candidate that has had unanimous support in their appointment.”

And Gunraj reminded the public that there were prior appointments supported by his opposition colleagues that were found to be improper.

“It would be remiss of me not to address the assertion of alleged wrongdoing by Gocool Boodhoo in 2011 and his continued employment with GECOM thereafter notwithstanding.

“(Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin) are the only two current members of the Commission who were Commissioners then. They ought to be ashamed to mention that much less cite it as an example of unsavoury employment practices at GECOM. They now seek to lay their incompetence and non-action at the feet of others.