By Zena Henry

PRESIDENT David Granger has dismissed claims he has his eyes set on a particular person for the post of chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the President said he is still considering the second list of nominees submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for the top GECOM post.

A Guyana Times report on Wednesday said “Despite Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s supply of two lists of eligible and independent candidates for the post of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, President David Granger will evidently bypass the latest and second list, to appoint a wild card candidate of his own choosing.”

The newspaper alleged that information from sources close to the People’s National Congress (PNC) indicate that the President would bypass the Opposition Leader’s list since his choice for the post “has always been retired Justice Claudette La Bennett”.

The President yesterday said he is in receipt of the Opposition Leader’s second list of names of nominees for the chairmanship and their Curriculum Vitae (CV), but those CVs are still being examined.

He reminded that a list of criteria was sent to Mr Jagdeo and “… we have to ensure that the nominees are in accordance with that”.

When asked about a possible pick from the second list, the President said, “I am obliged to examine the list that the Leader of the Opposition has submitted and we have not completed examination as yet.”

Asked about the Guyana Times report on his alleged choice for GECOM chair, the President said, “Don’t believe it”.

He said he has not made any pronouncements on who the GECOM Chair would be and is also unaware of any forum where considerations were made to support the claims of the Guyana Times article.

“I don’t know where that came from,” the President maintained.

Mr Granger had laid out the criteria for the position of GECOM chair, stating among other things that the person must have no political affiliation and should have the general characteristics of honesty, integrity, faithfulness and diligence.

Justice of Appeal BS Roy, retired Justice William Ramlall, Attorney and former Magistrate Oneidge Walrond Allicock, Attorney Kashir Khan, Attorney Nadia Sagar and Captain Gerald Gouveia are the persons on the second list submitted to President Granger by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.