Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo today wrote President David Granger seeking clarification on the President’s view as it relates to a candidate for the Chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission. The letter follows Granger’s rejection of the list of six names supplied by Jagdeo.
A copy of the letter follows:
His Excellency David A. Granger, DSM
President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Ministry of Presidency
Shiv’ Chanderpaul Drive
Georgetown
January 10, 2017
Dear Mr. President,
Your letter dated 2017-01-05 refers.
In that letter, Your Excellency has expressed the view that the six (6) persons whose names I submitted to fill the position of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission “do not seem to conform to the requirements of … Article 161(2) …” of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
I have also noted certain comments attributed to Your Excellency by the media made at a function held at State House on the 8th January, 2017, which tend to suggest that you apprehend Article 161(2) to require only persons who are Judges, qualified to be Judges, or former Judges of, either a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matter or, a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court. If those media reports accurately conveyed your views, then I am obliged to inform Your Excellency that my interpretation of Article 161(2) is different, in so far as, it also provides for, in addition to the category of persons to whom you have referred, “or any other fit and proper person”.
In the circumstances, I hereby request that Your Excellency clarify what you interpret the qualifications are of the persons to whom Article 161(2) of the Constitution refers. I am of the considered view that an urgent meeting will immeasurably assist in reconciling any differences of opinion which may exist on this issue.
Yours faithfully,
Bharrat Jagdeo, MP
Leader of the Opposition