The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) yesterday launched an attack on the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Claudette Singh over her decision in relation to two appointments.
The party alleged that her recent vote in favour of the hiring of a Civic and Voter Education Manager and a Logistics Manager showed that she is in the orbit of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP). There was no response from GECOM yesterday to the PNCR statement.
The PNCR criticized Singh for agreeing to fill these critical positions with candidates it described as having “inferior qualifications” compared to other applicants. The statement argued that these selections demonstrate Singh’s abandonment of her duties, stating, “Chairperson Claudette Singh remains a pawn of the PPP …”
The party’s statement highlighted that the recent appointments were made “in concert with the three PPP-nominated commissioners”.
“This does not provide a proper basis for the conduct of elections that are fair, credible, and can inspire trust in the voting population,” the party asserted, calling again for her resignation and urging that a new chairperson be appointed.
In response to the PNCR’s allegations, PPP-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj yesterday pushed back against the criticisms, stating, “It is rather ironic that the PNCR has launched an attack on the Chairman of GECOM in relation to her recent vote to appoint a new Civic and Voter Education Manager and a new Logistics Manager…. Differences of opinion on suitable candidates to fill vacancies at the Commission is not new.” He emphasized, while speaking with Stabroek News that the selections of Delon Clarke and Nardeo Persaud, who have both served in various capacities at GECOM, were based on their qualifications and experience.
Gunraj further commented, “While amnesia is a condition that naturally affects all of us with age, it seems as though selective amnesia is being resorted to in this instance,” referencing past controversies regarding appointments within GECOM. He recalled the appointment of Roxanne Myers as Deputy Chief Election Officer under the unlawfully appointed GECOM Chairman, James Patterson, noting, “In that instance, a person with no election experience was appointed in favour of a person who previously served in the very position. This appointment was reviewed by the Ethnic Relations Commission and found to be improper.”
Defending the current appointees to logistics and voter education, Gunraj stated, “Both candidates exhibited the requisite qualification and experience to execute tasks associated with each position… They have dutifully served in various capacities with the Commission for several years, without issue.”
He challenged the PNCR leaders, arguing that they should “be ashamed to mention” past employment practices while they themselves served on the commission “It would be remiss of me not to address the assertion of alleged wrongdoing by Gocool Boodoo in 2011 and his continued employment with GECOM thereafter notwithstanding. (Vincent) Alexander and (Charles) Corbin are the only two current members of the Commission who were Commissioners then. They ought to be ashamed to mention that much less cite it as an example of unsavoury employment practices at GECOM. They now seek to lay their incompetence and non-action at the feet of others.”
