The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is expected to re-advertise for applications to fill the vacant posts of Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) and Assistant CEO, according to opposition-nominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander.
The decision was taken at yesterday’s statutory meeting.
It is more than six months now since GECOM closed off the application process for filling the key vacancies but there has been very little movement in that regard. After a months-long process, the post of CEO was filled by Vishnu Persaud and Legal Officer by Attorney Kurt Anthony Da Silva.
On the preliminary shortlist are Melanie Marshall, Neil Bacchus, Mohamed Arjoon, and Deodat Persaud for the DCEO post. Delon Clarke, Noland Jervis, Melanie Marshall, Paul Jaisingh, Mohamed Arjoon, Neil Bacchus, Deolall Ramlall, Deodat Persaud, Natasha Grenion Dipchand, Andrea Sparman, Duarte Hetsberger and Colin April were shortlisted by the Chair to be considered for the post of ACEO.
Alexander told Stabroek News that Deodat Persaud and Melanie Marshall were further shortlisted for the post.
“We decided that the two that were shortlisted would remain shortlisted when advertising the vacancy of DCEO. The process for ACEO will start fresh,” he said.
Alexander and his Opposition colleagues have accused the commission of deliberately delaying the process of filling the vacancies.
For the post of Chief Accountant, Jaiwattie Singh, Abeossa Simon, Orlando Small, Victor Arjune and Ronald Charles have been shortlisted. However, there is some controversy surrounding the process now. GECOM has re-advertised for the post of Chief Accountant and according to sources within the Commission, this is to facilitate the application of the staff currently acting in that position.
GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh had named 17 for Civic and Voter Education Manager, and 24 for Logistics Manager. Applicants for the Logistics Manager post include former acting Town Clerk for the Municipality of Georgetown, Sharon Harry-Munroe and former CEO Keith Lowenfield’s personal assistant Duarte Hetsberger. Hetsberger was recently let go from the Commission after Persaud chose another personal assistant.
Alexander said that they have put a stay on the hiring of a Civic and Voter Education Manager since the Com-mission is now thinking of combining that with the post of Public Relations Officer. Yolanda Ward currently serves as PRO for the Commission.
