THE General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Mr. Clement Rohee, called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday to ensure that all its appointments for temporary or permanent staff are done in a transparent and open manner.

“Staff was hired to work without any advertisement. The ROs (regional officers) in the various regions were allowed to hand-pick staff (of) their liking. Many of the appointments were done based on family and friendship relations,” Rohee charged during a press conference held at Freedom House on Robb Street.

He said this concern was raised after People’s Progressive Party (PPP) scrutineers had, on several instances, refused to participate in effecting questionable transactions, yet GECOM officials had gone ahead and placed the particulars of such persons on the Register.

He said, “The Party has noted the mutterings in certain quarters that the registration process is scrutinised by party scrutineers. This notwithstanding, it must be stated for the record that there were several instances where PPP scrutineers refused to participate in effecting questionable transactions, yet GECOM officials went ahead and placed the particulars of such persons on the Register.”

Rohee stressed that this issue has left the party at odds with GECOM staffers. “The PPP is upset with the attitude and behaviour of some of the persons appointed by GECOM to work at GECOM Registration Offices,” he said.

He added that the ruling party has written to GECOM highlighting many of these issues, but little or no action has been taken by that Commission.

“The PPP wishes to state that it will not be intimidated by anyone. GECOM has its responsibility, and it is obligated to investigate reports made by political parties, since it is these parties which contest elections, and not GECOM,” he said.

Contrary to the erroneous assumptions being peddled, Rohee concluded, the ruling party has not lost confidence in its scrutineers.