– Opposition to begin consultations before submitting nominees

THE selection process for a new chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is likely to commence shortly as President David Granger has indicated to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo that his administration is ready to start the process.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon confirmed that President Granger is in receipt of a letter from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on the subject.

“Well, basically, the letter was asking that we commence the process and I think… the president would have said to him, ‘Yes, we are prepared to commence the process’ and, therefore, he [Jagdeo] must know what he has to do,” said Harmon.
In a letter dated November 15, 2016, and signed Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, the government was urged to act promptly as November 30 was fast approaching.
“l am writing you, on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, seeking to be advised on the approach His Excellency President David Granger[’s] Government intends to take in filling the vacancy as provided for in Article 161 of the Guyana Constitution.”

Harmon made it clear that President Granger has responded to the letter sent by the Leader of the Opposition and will soon indicate to him when the government’s nominees are to be submitted. However, if the President has an objection, then Opposition Leader Jagdeo will be required to submit additional names.
“There is a process which requires the president’s eventual agreement with the names submitted by the Leader of the Opposition,” the Minister of State told reporters.
On Thursday, Jagdeo told reporters at Freedom House that his party will begin consultations with civil society next week and will thereafter submit its six nominees. Consultations he said will begin on Tuesday.

GECOM’s Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally who had initially said he would demit office on November 30, 2016, recently told the Guyana Chronicle that 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.

“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 earlier this month. The Government has accepted Dr Surujbally’s resignation and asked that he ensures a smooth transition. Additionally, the government had said that when Surujbally demits office, the new Chairman of GECOM would be appointed.