Sandra V. Jones, a human resources and organisational specialist, has been confirmed as the new Commissioner on the Guyana Elections Commission.
She will fill the seat made vacant by the death of Robert Williams.
Stabroek News has been reliably informed that Leader of the Opposition David Granger will make an announcement to this effect in due course.
The consultations for the selection of the person to replace Williams were broad and encompassed many organisations. Jones is said to be connected to the private sector and was not a political nominee. She has over 25 years in human resource and organisational management.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) had put forward former MP David Patterson as their pick for the job and rumour was rife that the preferred nominee for APNU was former MP Aubrey Norton. However, sources say that Norton was not interested in the post. Granger had consultations with the AFC and with a number of other organisations and stakeholders with a view to widening the base for finding the right person for the position.
By selecting someone from outside political circles, sources say Granger would have blunted pressure for the AFC’s nominee to be chosen. A number of persons, including Norton, had said that the nominee to replace Williams should come from the AFC in keeping with the pattern that had prevailed.
On March 29, APNU announced that it was pressing ahead with the replacement of Williams even though it continues to press for reforms of Gecom, saying that the country cannot go into another election with Gecom as it is currently constituted. In March, the AFC and APNU had commenced the engagement on the vacancy.
