CHAIRMAN of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally has given the assurance that the Commission recognises the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the Guyana Action Party-Rise Organise And Rebuild (GAP-ROAR) as legitimate components of the Combined Opposition Political Parties in Parliament, and that GECOM had never and will never treat these two entities with bias either collectively or individually.

This guarantee was given during a Meeting with a team of representatives of the above referred Parties and Mr. Gerry Gouveia – Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, who attended the Meeting as an observer with the agreement of GECOM and the AFC and GAP-ROAR. The Meeting was held at the GECOM Boardroom last Tuesday immediately before the Commission’s 273rd Statutory Meeting.

The AFC and GAP-ROAR team comprised Mr. Raphael Trotman – Leader, Mr. A. Griffith – Chief Scrutineer, Mr. Clayton Hall, Mr. David Patterson and Mr. Martin Cheong all of the AFC, and Mr. Everall Franklin of GAP-ROAR. GECOM was represented at the Meeting by Dr Surujbally – Chairman, Mr. G. Boodoo – Chief Election Officer, and Commissioners Mr. V. Alexander, Mr. C. Corbin, Dr. K. Mangal Mr. M. McDoom, Mr. M. Shaw and Mr. R. Williams.

The primary issue raised by Mr. Trotman for discussion is that the AFC and GAP-ROAR feel that relations with GECOM must be improved. He said that these Parties feel “estranged” from the Commission, and that this should not be the case.

Mr. Trotman referred specifically to the occurrence relative to the AFC having had to uplift the accreditation cards for its Scrutineers from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). Acknowledging that it is the Leader of the Opposition who must submit the names of Scrutineers to GECOM for accreditation, he said that an administrative arrangement could have been put in place for the AFC to uplift the accreditation cards for its Scrutineers directly from GECOM. Responding to this position, Mr. Boodoo said that the accreditation cards for all Scrutineers appointed to work for and on behalf of the Combined Opposition Political Parties in Parliament had been submitted to him by Mr. Robert Corbin in his (Mr. Corbin’s) capacity as Leader of the Opposition. Consequently, the accreditation cards had been packaged for delivery to Mr. Corbin, and had been uplifted by a representative of the PNCR and handed over to the Leader of the Opposition.

Notwithstanding Mr. Boodoo’s explanation, the Chairman assured the AFC and GAP-ROAR that the concerns expressed by Mr. Trotman will be given the fullest consideration during the Commission’s 273rd Statutory Meeting. Further, he gave the Commission’s commitment to work towards bringing the relationship between GECOM and the AFC and GAP-ROAR to a mutually satisfactory level, but that the achievement of this high point would only be achieved through committed efforts from both sides. Dr Surujbally noted though that improving the relationship is a two way course, and that comments from the AFC regarding GECOM must be based on truth

Mr. Gerry Gouveia reiterated his previous comment, which was made during a meeting between GECOM and the PSC Wednesday, November 18, 2009, that there is no lack of confidence within the PSC relative to the capacity, ability and willingness of the GECOM to honour its mandates. However, Mr. Trotman said that he preferred to reserve any similar comment until he would have had the opportunity to observe future interactions between GECOM and the AFC and GAP-ROAR.