President David Granger and Ministers of the Government yesterday met with the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh SC, and the six Commissioners and promised Government’s full support towards the body’s work in ensuring “free, fair and credible elections” on March 2, 2020.
Following the meeting, which was held at the Ministry of the Presidency, Granger said that it was a very important engagement, which dealt with the readiness of the Commission to deliver credible elections and to determine whether the timelines, which the Commission itself had established would be met.
“The Commissioners spoke and I got the clear impression from the Chairman and all the Commissioners that they were quite satisfied that all the preparations for elections were on stream and that we can all look forward to having a credible and efficient elections by March 2. There were some minor issues, which had already been dealt with to the satisfaction of the Commission. So, the Government side is satisfied that Guyana is on stream to have efficient and credible elections on March 2, 2020,” he said, according to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.
Granger, who is performing the functions of a caretaker President pending general elections, said that the Government of Guyana has complete confidence in the Chair of the Commission and the Commissioners. The release said that he therefore assured Guyanese that they can be guaranteed a free and fair elections on March 2.
“We are satisfied with the work that is taking place now and we feel that the Chair herself has got her finger on the pulse and will do everything within her ability to ensure we have credible elections. I would like to thank her and I would like to assure you that we will have efficient and credible elections. You can all look forward to that,” the President said.
Meanwhile, Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon said that the Commission has indicated that the revised List of Electors would be available by December 29 as was previously indicated.
“The Commission has given us the assurance that they will work to ensure that by December 29, they meet that deadline of publishing that revised list,” he said.
Also in attendance at the meeting were Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar; Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson and Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.
Accompanying Justice Singh were Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield, the Opposition-appointed Commissioners – Sase Gunraj, Robeson Benn and Bibi Shadick and the Government-appointed Commissioners – Charles Corbin, Vincent Alexander and Desmond Trotman.
