Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally said circumstances may not permit him to demit office on November 30 as intended. Dr. Surujbally, who has been at the helm of GECOM since 2001, had formally informed President David Granger, Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo and the Commission of his intention to demit office on November 30, 2016.
But on Monday, he told Guyana Chronicle that circumstances may not permit him to step down as planned. “That was my intention. (But) There are developments and occurrences that dictate that I might have to stay on for a week or two,” Dr. Surujbally told this newspaper.
The Government while accepting Dr. Surujbally’s position has insisted on him creating the platform for seamless transition of his successor. Government has reportedly made it clear to Dr. Surujbally that effective on the day of him demitting office will be the date of the assumption of office, (swearing in of the new chairman.) Additionally, Government has insisted that all arrangements and decisions be made to ensure that the secretariat is stable and that the work programme of the commission continues seamlessly.
Speaking on the issue, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee said the party has been reliably informed that Dr. Surujbally will proceed on his retirement following his 90 days annual vacation leave which took effect on September 1, 2016. While not objection to Dr. Surujbally’s decision to vacate his office, Rohee said the PPP is concerned that since he has been on leave, meetings of the Commission have not been held to deal with substantive issues. “Letters have been written by members of GECOM to Dr. Surujbally requesting the convening of GECOM meetings to discuss matters of strategic importance to the work of the commission,” Rohee said while speaking at Freedom House.
Nevertheless, the PPP General Secretary the requisite systems will be put in place to pave the way for the appointment of a new chairman. “Approaches will be made at the appropriate constitutional level to discuss the terms of engagement which will have to be embarked upon to appoint a new chairman of GECOM in accordance with the letter and spirit of Article 161 of the Constitution of Guyana,” Rohee noted.
According to Article 161 of the Constitution, the chairman of the Elections Commission must be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly. The Chairman shall be a person who holds, has held or is qualified to hold the office of Judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal or any other fit and proper person.
The Constitution states that if the Leader of the Opposition does not submit such a list of persons then the President shall appoint a person who holds, has held or is qualified to hold the office of Judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal.