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THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is constructed in such a way (after the agreement among major political parties at the time) as to have indirect arms of political parties sitting on the Commission – three on one side (PNC/APNU) and three on the other (PPP).Don’t let anyone fool you otherwise. Dr. Steve Surujbally, as Chairman of the GECOM, is in the unenviable position of trying to get these quasi-politicos to agree unanimously on crucial issues, especially when some of the issues have political substance ramifications and fallouts.
Looking at the Gocool Boodoo matter, it has become quite clear that this is not an easy task – bearing in mind the types of individuals sitting on the Commission.
How often, in the past decade, has Dr. Surujbally had to cast a vote on any issue which might not have initially found favour with one or the other political side? None that we know of. Has there ever been a deadlock between the two opposing sides? No! Surujbally must possess great negotiating skills and guts to achieve this feat. He stands tall in his neutrality and non-partisanship, even though others are agitating to make us believe otherwise.
And what does he get in return? Abuse from both political entities (and their agents) at one time or another. The media are not bashful in taking potshots at the goodly GECOM Chairman, nor are they reticent in printing junk which they know to be incorrect – the excuse for which would most likely be that the media is just the messenger.
For example, the Kaieteur News (KN) printed a letter (23/6/2013), most likely from a facilitating source, saying that Dr. Surujbally’s salary is $2 million a month. Well, Dr. Surujbally’s salary is public knowledge. It is gazetted. It is in the budget. It is not anywhere near $2 million – not even near by half. And even if it were $20 million, would it matter? It would be a small price to pay for keeping the country from going up in flames, from experiencing blood in the streets – as were the cases after all the elections before his arrival as Chairman of GECOM.
The KN letter goes on to state that there is no evidence (not even from the opposition) to show why Mr. Boodoo should not be re-hired. Really? Perhaps, as the drama unfolds, much more on Boodoo’s eligibility will come to light. Again, one should give Dr. Surujbally kudos for not lambasting Mr. Boodoo in public by telling us why Members of the Commission are unwilling to re-hire Mr. Boodoo and, in so doing, being derided by those who are selectively ignorant.
The letter writer (who today – 24/06/2013 – found his letter printed in the Guyana Chronicle) continues by positing why the Chairman has not completed an appraisal of Mr. Boodoo. I can’t speak for the GECOM Chairman (he is quite capable of doing that for himself), but I too can ask questions, namely, who says and where does it state that the Chairman (and the entire Commission for that matter) should write an appraisal? Where does it state that the buck stops at the Chairman’s desk in that democratic institution called GECOM?
I agree with the Letter writer ‘Stephen Kissoon’ that the “Boodoo” issue is a contentious one. It has so become because of political involvement. If one is to demand and expect transparency and due process, and not a flippant, off-the-cuff decision, then let the process take as long as it must.
The unkindest cut of all is to suggest that in carrying out his job diligently and transparently, Dr. Surujbally seeks to retain his “super salary” – not even remotely comparable to those salaries given to “boys and girls” who are given jobs not at all in the league of responsibility as Surujbally’s.
Looking at the Gocool Boodoo matter, it has become quite clear that this is not an easy task – bearing in mind the types of individuals sitting on the Commission.
How often, in the past decade, has Dr. Surujbally had to cast a vote on any issue which might not have initially found favour with one or the other political side? None that we know of. Has there ever been a deadlock between the two opposing sides? No! Surujbally must possess great negotiating skills and guts to achieve this feat. He stands tall in his neutrality and non-partisanship, even though others are agitating to make us believe otherwise.
And what does he get in return? Abuse from both political entities (and their agents) at one time or another. The media are not bashful in taking potshots at the goodly GECOM Chairman, nor are they reticent in printing junk which they know to be incorrect – the excuse for which would most likely be that the media is just the messenger.
For example, the Kaieteur News (KN) printed a letter (23/6/2013), most likely from a facilitating source, saying that Dr. Surujbally’s salary is $2 million a month. Well, Dr. Surujbally’s salary is public knowledge. It is gazetted. It is in the budget. It is not anywhere near $2 million – not even near by half. And even if it were $20 million, would it matter? It would be a small price to pay for keeping the country from going up in flames, from experiencing blood in the streets – as were the cases after all the elections before his arrival as Chairman of GECOM.
The KN letter goes on to state that there is no evidence (not even from the opposition) to show why Mr. Boodoo should not be re-hired. Really? Perhaps, as the drama unfolds, much more on Boodoo’s eligibility will come to light. Again, one should give Dr. Surujbally kudos for not lambasting Mr. Boodoo in public by telling us why Members of the Commission are unwilling to re-hire Mr. Boodoo and, in so doing, being derided by those who are selectively ignorant.
The letter writer (who today – 24/06/2013 – found his letter printed in the Guyana Chronicle) continues by positing why the Chairman has not completed an appraisal of Mr. Boodoo. I can’t speak for the GECOM Chairman (he is quite capable of doing that for himself), but I too can ask questions, namely, who says and where does it state that the Chairman (and the entire Commission for that matter) should write an appraisal? Where does it state that the buck stops at the Chairman’s desk in that democratic institution called GECOM?
I agree with the Letter writer ‘Stephen Kissoon’ that the “Boodoo” issue is a contentious one. It has so become because of political involvement. If one is to demand and expect transparency and due process, and not a flippant, off-the-cuff decision, then let the process take as long as it must.
The unkindest cut of all is to suggest that in carrying out his job diligently and transparently, Dr. Surujbally seeks to retain his “super salary” – not even remotely comparable to those salaries given to “boys and girls” who are given jobs not at all in the league of responsibility as Surujbally’s.
The GECOM Chairman does not have to side with any faction in order to retain his job and salary. Look at the law. It is on the GECOM website for easy reference. What we are now witnessing is clandestine, hate-filled phantoms trying to pull the rug from under the GECOM Chairman’s feet, and weaken the Commission which has truly grown from strength to strength.
Dr. Surujbally does not – as Stephen Kissoon suggests – need to occupy his rightful place in Guyana’s history. He has already done so.
I would greatly appreciate that you do not publish my name and address as I might be targeted for my opinions as penned herein with an open mind.
