The People’s Progressive Party is concerned that meetings are not being held to discuss matters of strategic importance to the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) given that its Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally has proceeded on 90 days leave, after which he will demit office.
At a press conference at Freedom House yesterday, the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee told reporters that Surujbally has decided to step down at the end of this month.
Stabroek News contacted the Gecom office yesterday and was told that while Surujbally has resigned. It was not confirmed that he would come off at the end of this month as “he has some things to get done. He may or may not come off then… or it may be a little later,” Public Relations Officer Tamara Rodney said.
However, according to Rohee, Surujbally has already informed President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo of his decision to demit office at the end of November 2016.
But he lamented that since the chairman proceeded on leave, meetings have not been held to deal with substantive issues, “save for one to address administrative matters relating to the currently ongoing continuous registration.”
He said letters had been written by members of Gecom to Surujbally “requesting the convening of meetings to discuss matters of strategic importance regarding the work of the commission.”
However, he added, “Approaches will be made at the appropriate constitutional level to discuss the terms of engagement which will have to be embarked upon in order to appoint a new chairman of Gecom in accordance with the letter and spirit of Article 161 of the Constitution of Guyana.”
