Dear Editor,
A New York-based Guyanese organisation, Guyana Democracy Project, has hailed the appointment of Vishnu Persaud as Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The organisation, led by President Dr. Tara Singh, former Senior lecturer at the University of Guyana (UG), advocates, promotes, supports and defends democracy in Guyana. The group played a prominent role combatting the attempts to rig the 2020 Regional and General Elections.

The organisation released a statement praising the appointment and cheering the Chair (Ret’d), Justice Claudette Singh, for selecting Persaud, who had distinguished himself in service at the body before his appointment was not renewed. In part, the Guyana Democracy Project said:

“The decision by GECOM to appoint Mr Vishnu Persaud as the Chief Executive Officer has received wide support from Guyanese at home and the diaspora. Many felt that it is/was poetic justice for a man who [was] denied the position on account of racial bias and politics.”

The GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh said that Persaud has the right “skills, experience and expertise” for the job of CEO. She further indicates that he knows the 10 geographic regions of the country. She is right. He is very knowledgeable about electoral issues in the varied regions.
In the interaction with Persaud in his capacity of Public Relations Officer and then as Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), he has always been responsive and forthright.

In the circumstances, the New York Guyana Democracy Project welcomes this appointment as an essential step in the promotion of democracy, inclusive of free and fair elections, especially when efforts were made to rig the 2020 elections. The GECOM Chair is commended for assessing the objective realities regarding Persaud’s credentials and synchronise these with the broader national need for integrity, and confidence in the electoral process.

Casting aspersions on the Chair’s integrity and professionalism are misguided. She has made the right choice. There was no other candidate that is more qualified than Mr Persaud.

We note also that the country has been without a GECOM CEO for several months. This has resulted in the postponement of Local Government Elections (LGE) constitutionally due in 2021. Thus, filling the vacancy was long overdue and the Commission could now proceed to lay the groundwork for LGE.

Persaud worked tirelessly almost for two decades at GECOM and was unjustly rejected (which was confirmed by Guyana Ethnic Relations Commission) for the Deputy CEO position in 2017 when a person less qualified than him was chosen for the position.

GECOM’s image was severely tarnished during the 2020 elections process when elements of the Commission, in collusion with political party operatives, attempted to stage an electoral heist. Several of them are before the courts to answer charges relating to electoral fraud. The Chair knows that the integrity of GECOM has to be repaired if Guyanese are to have confidence in the electoral machinery. No better a person can assist the Chair to restore the integrity of the elections’ body.

Persaud’s appointment, his competence, integrity and professionalism will help to restore the image and integrity of GECOM. Guyanese could now breathe freer as the stage is being set for free and fair elections. The task ahead for Persaud would be formidable but he has shown from past experience that he would navigate this with distinction.
Congratulations to Mr Vishnu Persaud.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Vishnu Bisram