CREATING roadblocks for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is not the intention of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) when it voices its concerns.“We want to help. We want to assist GECOM to bring off a successful election. We don’t want to create roadblocks or hurdles for GECOM and as a major stakeholder in the electoral process we believe that we have a legitimate right to ask questions,” said PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee, at a recent news conference.

According to him, the party’s “fight” with GECOM has been with the elections machinery.
“Our fight with GECOM, from the inception, has always been with the machinery….this is the basis of our questions…there have been some improvements, we must concede,” Rohee said.
However, he underscored that GECOM’s employees continue to represent an area of concern for the party.
“We have too much incontrovertible evidence in the past that some members of GECOM staff as well as these information clerks have been involved in matters which have no bearing on what they are supposed to be doing on polling day,” the PPP General Secretary said.
Consequently, he reiterated the party’s call for public vetting of polling day staff.
He said, “[Having this issue] being treated as a top secret or surprise by GECOM will only serve to create doubts in the minds of people and eventually a loss of confidence. The world over, polling day staff plays an integral role in the electoral processes hence, the more reason for involving the populace in the recruitment of these persons.
“Polling day staff, even though having their private and personal preferences towards a political party are expected to perform their duties in a neutral and professional manner.”
Rohee stressed that the ruling party is “wary” of the experiences of the past where “politically biased” polling day staff seemed bent on depriving PPP polling agents and candidates of their rights on Election Day.
He contends that having these issues addressed will go a long way in assuring GECOM’s own efficiency and the confidence and acceptance of the results by all Guyanese.
GECOM’s Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, in an earlier comment on the repeated concerns of the PPP, gave the assurance that GECOM will not be hiring persons who do not satisfy the required qualification criteria.
He made it clear that the Commission’s employment process will be guided by established employment best practices towards ensuring that the best candidates with the requisite knowledge, skills and experience are appointed to the various positions that are relevant to elections management.
Additionally, public vetting of staffers aside, the ruling party as well as other stakeholders in the electoral process have expressed confidence in the electoral process and in the Commission’s ability to conduct free and fair elections. (Vanessa Narine)