The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday decided to confirm Melanie Marshall as the substantive Voter Registration Manager, according to Commissioners Vincent Alexander and Sase Gunraj.
For over six months now, the Elections Commission has been trying to fill key vacancies however, some Commissioners are of the view that there is a deliberate attempt to stymie the process.
Back in September/October last year, GECOM advertised for a Chief Election Officer (CEO), Deputy CEO, Assistant CEO, Chief Accountant, Logistics Manager, Legal Officer and Civic and Voter Education Manager. After a months-long process, the post of CEO was filled by Vishnu Persaud and that of Legal Officer by attorney, Kurt Anthony Da Silva.
Marshall’s appointment is now the third in the series. Marshall previously served as Returning Officer for electoral district four (Demerara-Mahaica) before she was elevated by former CEO Keith Lowenfield.
“We are confirming Ms Melanie Marshall as Manager for Voter Registration. She is currently acting in the position,” Alexander told Stabroek News.
Marshall has also applied for the posts of DCEO and ACEO. Along with Marshall, Deodat Persaud was shortlisted for the DCEO post while both Persaud and Marshall are on the preliminary list with Delon Clarke, Noland Jervis, Paul Jaisingh, Mohamed Arjoon, Neil Bacchus, Deolall Ramlall, Natasha Grenion Dipchand, Andrea Sparman, Duarte Hetsberger and Colin April for ACEO.
Alexander related that Marshall remains eligible for appointment to either post.
“She has been shortlisted for DCEO [and ACEO] too. We are confirming her where she is and if she wins the DCEO then we will have to readvertise for what she has been confirmed for, so that’s where we are at,” he said.
He added that they are in the process of shortlisting applicants for the post of Chief Accountant as well. GECOM had readvertised 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. Jaiwattie Singh, Abeossa Simon, Orlando Small, Victor Arjune and Ronald Charles had been shortlisted for the post following the initial process.
Alexander said that they have put a stay on the hiring of a Civic and Voter Education Manager since the Commission is now thinking of combining that with the post of Public Relations Officer. Yolanda Ward currently serves as PRO for the Commission and a decision on the merging of the two portfolios is expected to be made at the next statutory meeting on Tuesday.
