PRESIDENT David Granger on Thursday said he is currently reviewing the third list of nominees submitted by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, to be considered for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairmanship.

Speaking to reporters at State House, the President said, he has since responded to Jagdeo indicating that he is in receipt of the list and is examining same.

Jagdeo submitted a list of six nominees to the President some six days ago after the second list he submitted was rejected on the ground that it was “unacceptable”. “I have examined the Curricula Vitae of the six persons in light of the criteria defined in my letter to you dated 2017.03.14. I have found the list to be ‘unacceptable’ within the meaning of the Constitution and of those criteria,” the President had said back in June when he had refused Jagdeo’s second list.

The third list submitted by Jagdeo comprises of former GECOM Chairman Major General (retired) Joseph Singh, Attorneys Teni Housty and Sanjeev Datadin, businesswoman Annette Arjoon-Martins, Pastor Onesi La Fleur and Former Magistrate, Krishendatt Persaud.

President Granger has continuously said that the list submitted by the Opposition Leader must match the criteria set out in keeping with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution for the selection of a ‘fit and proper’ person to fill the post. On Thursday, the head of state said he is looking at the third list critically and would make his decision based on advice received. “I don’t make these decisions without advice and I will discuss the matter with my colleagues, but certainly not before next cabinet, which is next Tuesday,” said the President.

He could not state when he would complete his review of the new list but noted that he is not at fault for the delay in the appointment of a GECOM chairman. The President last consulted with the Opposition Leader in June after the submission of the second list. Earlier this year, businessman Marcel Gaskin approached the High Court to interpret Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana, which speaks to the appointment of a chairman for GECOM.

Gaskin questioned whether the list of persons for appointment as GECOM Chair to be submitted by Jagdeo must include a judge, former judge or person qualified to be a judge; the President is required under the constitution to state reasons for deeming each of the six names on the list as unacceptable; the President is obliged to select a person from the six names on the list unless he has determined positively that the persons are unacceptable as fit and proper for appointment and whether a finding of act by the president that one or more persons on the list is not fit and proper renders the entire list as unacceptable.

Justice George ruled that persons nominated to be selected as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) do not have to be judges, former judges or persons qualified to serve as a judge. She also ruled that while the President has the ultimate say on who is determined fit and proper to serve in the post, and could also reject the list of nominees, he should provide reasons as to why specific persons are unsuitable.