THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must stop all procrastation and get rid of the high-profile trio who are before the courts for fraud. There must be no hesitation and the commission must make the long-awaited decision and fire the trio.
The public has lost trust and confidence in the trio.

All three of them are facing criminal charges that were instituted against them for alleged misconduct during the post-voting process after the 2020 National and Regional Elections. The rigging attempts that took place during the painful five months during the 2nd March, to 2nd August must never be forgotten. However, systems must be put in place to ensure that all officers of the commission maintain the integrity of their positions. No one should be allowed to hold our nation to ransom again.

It is most disheartening to hear and read that the commission was unable to source copies of the contracts of the chief election officer and his deputy. While the likes of Vincent Alexander and his biased commissioners are rightly asking for copies of their contacts, the inability of the GECOM secretariat to produce copies of the staff members’ contracts stinks. This nation is wondering why the secretariat had refused to cooperate with the Ethnic Relations Commission when there was the investigation on the employment at GECOM. Today, we must demand that this nation get all the necessary information about the employment and staffing at GECOM. There are serious allegations about ‘Phantom” staff at GECOM; further, it is imperative that all these shenanigans at GECOM are weeded out.

The court and our eminent people in the judiciary must recognise what GECOM is doing. It is unacceptable for the PNC and the staff at GECOM to misuse the judiciary and at all times use the courts to delay and avoid doing things the correct way. Keith Lowenfield must be a very wealthy man to be in a position to go to the court at all times to just delay natural justice. His request for the court to bar Bibi Shadick and Sase Gunraj from participating in the debate to dismiss him must not be granted; it is pleasing to know that no injunction was granted.
According to information, Lowenfield’s services could be terminated via a three-month notice or without notice for gross misconduct. The Chairperson of GECOM did the correct thing when she requested Lowenfield to show cause why he should not be removed from his position as CEO. Guyanese had enough of all these delaying tactics and the commission must be decisive and send them home.

Local Government Elections (LGEs) are due this year and we must have all systems put in place for the holding of LGEs. Electoral reforms are on the front burner and GECOM must be prepared to hold free and fair elections at all times. As this nation looks forward to the holding of Local Government Elections this year, it is imperative for GECOM to cleanse itself of these notorious characters and re-earn the trust and confidence of the population.

Yours sincerely,
Neil Kumar