Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 30, 2017 News
By Brushell Blackman
The opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has indicated that it will be submitting a second list of potential chairpersons for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by the end of the week.
At a press conference at the opposition leader’s office yesterday, PPP/C Member of Parliament, Gail Teixeira said that her party found it difficult to find candidates who could confirm to the criteria set out by President David Granger for the chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
According to Teixeira her party has been holding consultations to find suitable candidates with a view to submitting a second list to the president after the first list was rejected.
She said that the civil society was given until March 27, to come up with names, but they asked for more time to consult with the relevant stakeholders on the issue.
She said that so far her party has been given 15 submissions by civil society, with some of those being persons who would have been recommended previously. “Some organizations have admitted that they have been having difficulties finding persons who could fulfill the criteria established by the president.”
The former Home Affairs Minister admitted that even those names that were submitted may not meet the benchmark. She said that the president has gone beyond the constitution and this is placing undue pressure and duress on the selection process for the GECOM chairmanship.
Teixeira said that the constitution did not contemplate many of the criteria set out by the president, including the need to have electoral knowledge. It was her belief that the thrust of what the constitution places greater emphasis on, is the integrity and the independence of the post holder.
Ms Teixeira said that the religious community has issues with the criteria themselves. According to her that community went so far as to say even Jesus couldn’t meet the criteria the president is looking for. She said that particular chairman that the president is seeking can be likened to ‘superman’.
Bishop Juan Edghill said that the president’s criteria is designed to ensure that the person who takes up that position is someone that is favoured by the president.
Edghill accused the head of state of seeking out personalities that he is comfortable with to fill positions that are of national importance to ensure that the ruling administration’s agenda is championed.
In light of the wide ranging criteria set out by the president the party was asked, what do they intend to do if the second list is rejected?. It was indicated that the party (PPP/C) will confront that issue when that time comes.
However Teixeira noted that based on the utterances of the Minister of State Joseph Harmon, the party can submit as many lists as it wants; however some are of the view that the president can make a unilateral decision on the Gecom chairmanship.
The criteria set out by the president for someone to take up the position of GECOM chairman is as follows; the candidate should be a person who is qualified to be a judge of the High Court under Article 129 of the Constitution and under Section 5 of the High Court Act, Cap 3:02; that person should have been an attorney-at-law for a minimum of seven years, according to Section 5 of the High Court Act, Cap 3:02; In the absence of 1 and 2 above ‘any other fit and proper person’ should be appointed according to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.
The categories of persons specified above are necessary because such persons should have the following characteristics; that person is deemed to have wide electoral knowledge, capable of handling electoral matters because he or she is qualified to exercise unlimited jurisdiction in civil matters; that person will discharge his or her functions without fear or favour, that is, he or she will not allow any person or organization to influence him or her to compromise his or her neutrality; that person will discharge his or her functions neutrally, between the two opposing parties, as he or she would have done in court between two opposing litigants and that person will not be an activist in any form (gender, racial, religious etc),the persons should also have a general character of honesty, integrity, faithfulness and diligence in the discharge of his or her duty as Chairman.”
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