— GTUC expresses full confidence in new GECOM chair

THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has welcomed retired Justice Claudette Singh, S.C to the post of chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and expressed confidence that previous acts under the Commission which “left a stain” on the office will not be repeated.

The GTUC, in a release on Wednesday, hailed Justice Singh’s appointment as a “breath of fresh air” which should “enhance confidence” in the Commission.
This confidence, it noted, has diminished over the years as the Commission has repeatedly been involved in several forms of controversy.

It highlighted the acts of former GECOM Chairman, Doodnauth Singh S.C., who the union stated, flagrantly participated in encouraging the disregard for the Court Order in the 1997 Elections, leading to the swearing in of Janet Jagan as President and her throwing the writ over her shoulder.

The union said the election was found to be fraudulent and subsequently vitiated.
It also highlighted the 2006 incident whereby Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Gocool Boodhoo, declared the 2006 Elections while fully aware that the Alliance For Change’s (AFCs) Region 10 geographic seat was wrongly declared for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

This, the GTUC indicated, is coupled with the reported attempt to wrongly declare the 2011 elections to give the PPP a parliamentary majority which they say have “left a stain on the Commission” and sought only to benefit one political force.

“Despite these incidents, Guyana must have trust in this most significant constitutional office. We must have people who must operate above the political fray. Let us not be naive to the perception that persons don’t have a political horse in the race.

What we want is notwithstanding the political horse in the race, their integrity, professionalism and commitment to good stewardship of GECOM must see them operating at a level above partisanship. They must recognise that they are entrusted in a position of power to steer the ship of Guyana and trust is important,” the union cautioned.

Moving forward under new leadership, the union stated that the Commission must now work to ensure that the ‘small man’ has confidence that his/her vote counts in equal measure.

It also anticipated that with the decision being a consensual one, both sides of the political divide will give the new chairperson the necessary cooperation.
It highlighted that the staged walkouts of the Opposition-nominated commissioners, which were done consecutively over an extended period in the past, should have no place in the coming meetings of the Commission.

TRUST
“GTUC today places that trust and confidence in Justice Claudette Singh S.C. There should be more positive engagement that will not result in walkout but will see both sides hammering out differences at the level of the commissioners. Any attempt to bully or usurp Justice Singh’s role and authority, to denigrate and vilify or unjustly seek to undermine her integrity and the office of GECOM will not be tolerated.

All parties concerned should be encouraged by her statement of commitment to free, fair and transparent elections. These are critical to ensuring an election that is not only free and fair, but free from fear and respecting the rights of every eligible citizen to register, to uninhibitedly cast his/her vote in the correct district, and for all votes to be duly counted and accurately declared,” the GTUC said.

The union reminded that a voter’s integrity is not limited to what goes into the ballot box or what is counted, but from the initial process of registration to the final process of declaration.

This is even as the Opposition seeks to influence a halt to the ongoing house-to-house registration activity which has already registered over 70,000 Guyanese who will now be eligible to vote.

The GTUC stated “Now that the chair has been duly appointed, GTUC calls on all politicians and those with vested interest in interfering in the operations of this institution to leave this constitutional body to function independent of their interference.”

Meanwhile, the union used the opportunity to also encourage President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, to further engage on issues relating to day-to-day governance.
The Trades Union Congress, in the release, also welcomed Justice Singh’s appointment as a plus for inclusion, gender equity and another achievement for women in leadership role.

“Justice Singh’s appointment comes at a very crucial time when we are rapidly losing the ability to come together as a united people bound by common interest to move Guyana forward; when forces stoke political and ethnic distrust, confidence in our judicial and government systems, constitutional offices, each other, and even rank and file workers who are placed at risk for their safety in the daily execution of their duty,” the release stated.

The union added: “We are in a period where persons are being made afraid to trust where the lines between right and wrong, good and bad are becoming blurred and dependent on who is doing to, or saying what about whom. Justice Claudette Singh is a breath of fresh air in a highly toxic environment. Her role at GECOM is expected to enhance the confidence reposed in this Office.”