OUTGOING Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally on Monday expressed optimism that the stalemate between the government and the opposition over the appointment of a new GECOM Chairman will be resolved soon so that he can demit office.Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, Dr. Surujbally, who has been at the helm of GECOM for 16 years, said he is eager to retire but has committed to assist with the smooth transition. “I cannot carry on ad infinitum. There is a procedure in place for the appointment of a new chairman, and once that person is appointed, I will demit office,” he said.
Dr. Surujbally was scheduled to retire on November 30, 2016 but was asked to remain on the job until a new chairman is selected. The new chairman, Dr. Surujbally, said must be able to “hit the ground, to some degree, running,” noting that all systems are in place and ready for take over.
The outgoing chairman said if a request is made by the incoming chairman for a ‘brief’ on pressing matters engaging the commission, he will do so but not during an official meeting. Dr. Surujbally said in 2001 when he entered office, he would have benefited from the wisdom of the former Chairman, Major General (Ret.) Joe Singh, and as such, would be more than willing to replicate Singh’s actions.
The opposition has agreed to meet with the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams to have greater clarification of Government’s interpretation of the Article 161, which governs the appointment of a Chairman for the Commission.
On Monday, the Attorney General was in receipt of a letter from Executive Member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Anil Nandlall requesting a meeting beyond January 26. However, with Minister Williams scheduled to attend a Council of Legal Education (CLE) meeting from January 27-28 in Kingston, Jamaica, it is likely that the meeting surrounding the chairmanship of GECOM will be pushed to February.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo at a Monday morning Press Conference confirmed that the party’s legal spokesperson, Anil Nandlall has sent a letter to the AG, accepting the President’s proposal to a meeting.
Jagdeo contended that based on the President’s decisions, it is the PPP’s belief that the Head-of-State is receiving “bad advice” from Williams, but that there is still hope for the two political sides to settle the matter in an amicable way.
Jagdeo had submitted six nominees, however they were all rejected by President David Granger, who described the list provided as “unacceptable.”
Jagdeo had named Rhyaan Shah, a controversial Indian rights activist; Professor James Rose; Lawrence Latchmansingh, a Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Consultant; business executive, Ramesh Dookhoo; former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Norman McLean; and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram as his nominees but President Granger in turning down the names, explained that the nominees are not qualified based on the constitutional requirements.
According to Section 2 of Article 161 “the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any judge, or any other fit and proper person, to 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.”
President Granger has since made it clear that if the opposition leader fails to reproduce another list that is acceptable, he will identify a chairman in keeping with the constitution.
“The Constitution is clear that once the leader of the opposition fails to submit a list of persons, who are not unacceptable, I will have to make a choice but I will choose someone who is acceptable to both sides and who the general public is satisfied with,” President Granger said last week. He added: “I am going to choose somebody, who is fit to be a judge and who can discharge the functions of Office of Chairman of the Elections Commission with impartiality, with integrity and with intelligence.”