Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
APNU looking to Parliament to overhaul GECOM
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will be using its influence in the 10th Parliament to seek a complete overhaul of the Guyana Elections Commission in its current form.
This is according to Prime Ministerial Candidate of the partnership, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, who yesterday told media operatives that they will need the support of both the Alliance for Change and the Peoples Progressive Party Civic, given that such a constitutional move will require a 2/3 majority vote in the House.
APNU member Mervyn Williams
Dr Roopnarine told members of the media yesterday that there is an alternative in the form of a Parliamentary Referendum, which only requires a simple majority but poses a “catch 22” given that it will have to be the same Commission that will be asked to implement the changes being sought.
Partnership member Mervyn Williams, who is a former Peoples National Congress Reform Member of Parliament told media operatives that a large section of the electorate has lost confidence in GECOM as presently constituted and operated.
The Commission, he said is now seen as partisan and not being independent, as the law intends for it to be in a democratic society.
In addition, Williams said that the Carter formula, which has been used over the years, has failed to deliver an independent Commission.
“Consequently, there is need for a total overhaul of the Commission.”
He said that APNU is adamant that the attitude and approach of Dr. Steve Surujbally, Chairman of the Elections Commission and Gocool Boodhoo, Chief Elections Officer do not help and fuel the lack of confidence and the growing mistrust of the people for the Commission.
“The consistent failure of the Elections Commission to honour its word and provide early results, is a clear indication of its incompetence…In addition, the long wait between the counting of the ballots at the place of poll and the official declaration of the results gives credence to the view that those sympathetic to the PPP/C in the Commission were involved in the altering of the results to keep the PPP/C in Government…In this regard, the Chairman of the Commission and the Chief Elections Officer have to take responsibility.”
He believes that there is compelling evidence that they were on the verge of incorrectly declaring the PPP/C to have won a majority when they did not.
“It was only as a result of the vigilance and quick action by the opposition members of the Commission that the entire will of the people was not sacrificed at the altar of narrow partisan political interest.”
Williams said that the Elections Commission under the present leadership has lost its legitimacy.
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