Pres. Granger to write Jagdeo on qualities of GECOM chair

PRESIDENT David Granger is expected to write Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo within a week, outlining the qualities he expects in a nominee for the vacant post of Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

This was disclosed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, following a second round of meeting between the President and Jagdeo at State House on Wednesday afternoon. Harmon accompanied the President at the meeting along with Attorney General, Basil Williams, while PPP Member of Parliament, Anil Nandlall was also present.
According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, Harmon in a brief comment noted that the President will write a letter to the Opposition Leader within a week to further guide his selection process following which Jagdeo is expected to submit his new list.

Minister Harmon also said that while a date for the next engagement with the Opposition Leader has not been fixed, there is not going to be much delay in concluding the appointment of the new chairperson. According to the release, Harmon disclosed that Jagdeo requested clarification as it relates to the qualities of the persons to be included on the list. He said that the Attorney General provided a clear explanation as to what, according to the Constitution, was “fit and proper”.

“His Excellency did elaborate a little more on that and he identified the three ‘Is’ which is to say that the person must be a person of integrity, the person must be a person who is independent and the person must be someone who is impartial,” Harmon said.
Jagdeo in a statement Wednesday evening noted that the President admitted that a collaborative exercise between the two would assist in arriving at a consensual candidate, in keeping with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, the two parties also discussed the appointment of two judges, who were recommended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to sit in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The issue was raised by the Opposition Leader when he met with the President last week at State House.

“His Excellency indicated to the Leader of the Opposition that he sent a letter to the Acting Chancellor and the Chairman of the JSC asking them to provide some additional information and based upon that he is going to exercise his judgement,” Harmon noted.
However, the Opposition Leader noted that the JSC has already conducted the requisite inquires to determine the suitability of candidates. He pointed out that once those recommendations are made, the President’s power is very limited under the Constitution. According to Jagdeo the President is now obliged to make the appointments in spite of reservations which he may have regarding the candidates who have been recommended.

“The Leader of the Opposition pointed out that any request for a performance related report ought not to be confined to the two Judges who have been recommended for elevation, but must apply to all Judges so that they can be a basis for comparison,” the statement noted.
Last week, President Granger invited the Opposition Leader to discuss the appointment of Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards as Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire as Acting Chief Justice. The Opposition has since agreed to the two appointments.

Following the first meeting , Jagdeo noted in a release “the absence of action” in relation to recommendations made to the President last February by the JSC that Justice Rishi Persaud and Justice Dawn Gregory be appointed to the Court of Appeal as well as the appointment of Sandil Kissoon and Damone Younge, both Attorneys-at-Law, be appointed as Puisne Judges.