President Bharrat Jagdeo has asked Dr Steve Surujbally to resign from his post as chairman of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), following objections by several stakeholders to the chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) holding a second position. However, Jagdeo told reporters yesterday that his decision to ask Surujbally to give up the GLDA post was not made because of “pressure” from any group, but rather to remove any excuse the main opposition parties might have to delay the elections this year.
He said Surjubally was the unanimous choice when the fledging body was formed because of his expertise, noting that the position was simply to, “chair a board, and not receive any pay.
“It’s a loss of a good solid skill because he is the foremost authority on livestock in the country. But just not to give the PNC another excuse… cause I think this is the year when they will start looking for excuses,” the President said, he had asked Surujbally to resign.
The President said that Surujbally’s appointment was being treated as though he was compromised; or he would do something for the ruling party. He stressed that anyone who knows the GECOM chairman would be well aware of his service to the country in this area, noting that Surujbally headed the programme within the Ministry of Agriculture.
The President said Surjubally confirmed to him in conversation that all of the opposition leaders were consulted on the GLDA appointment, and that no one made any objections. Jagdeo named Opposition Leader Robert Corbin among those Surjubally said he spoke with and according to him, “Corbin never said a word objecting to it”.
The President questioned how Corbin could later attend his party’s press conference and that say he was not consulted on the issue; he accused the opposition leader of politicizing the issue.
He said too that AFC leader Raphael Trotman met Surujbally and endorsed him for the GLDA appointment. Similarly, he said, Surjubally met the leaders of GAP/ROAR and TUF on his appointment and no objections were raised.
The PNCR on Friday said it was being suggested that the party had been consulted on Surujbally’s appointment and approved of it, but that it gave no such endorsement. Party executive Amna Ally speaking on the issue said this:
“In any event, at the time the information was made known to the PNCR, the Letter of appointment, dated 16 August, 2010 and signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Robert Persaud had already been issued to Mr Surujbally indicating that Cabinet had previously approved his appointment. In these circumstances it is difficult to fathom that Cabinet would have made such an appointment before consultation with the proposed appointee.”
When he was contacted about the PNCR’s position, Surujbally said he had consulted his lawyers on the issue and was advised that he had done nothing wrong. “Let them go to the courts if they feel it’s illegal,” he declared. He said he had written to and met the leaders of the parliamentary parties months ago advising them of his appointment and had sought feedback on whether they objected but to date he had received no response.
But observers have pointed out that the concerns over the appointment did not relate to Dr Surujbally’s expertise but the prohibition against any other employment as Chairman of GECOM. Article 161 of the Constitution prohibits the GECOM chairman from taking up any other form of employment. When the President was asked about the constitutional provisions, he said Surujbally was not an executive chairman at GLDA with a salaried position. “… His expertise was in livestock, is not like we took him to head the central bank,” he said. He reasoned further that it was unethical for persons to have been approached by Surjubally and specifically asked whether they had any objections only to say later that they were not consulted. Jagdeo added that the best solution was to get Surujbally off the board so, “Corbin could be happy… and without any excuse”.
Prior to the President’s announcement yesterday, veteran politician and activist Eusi Kwayana said Surujbally’s appointment as GLDA Chairman was a “non-starter”. He added, “It will not do for the chair of the Guyana Elections Commission to be seen as knowingly flouting the Constitution.
“What the elections commission needs is not less attention from its chairman, the only full-time member, but empowerment with financial self control, subject only to the Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee.”
Former member of the Constitution Reform Commission Dr Rupert Roopnaraine had called on Surujbally to give up the appointment. Dr Roopnaraine said he hoped the GECOM chairman would decline the GLDA appointment since it could give rise to controversy which is the last thing needed in an election year.
“I am hoping that Steve sees the wisdom in declining this and concentrating on getting this thing off the ground,” he said. Roopnaraine stated that the Constitution is “fairly clear” on the issue of employment and added that Surujbally’s full attention would be required for his duties at GECOM.
