Where is the forensic audit of GECOM?

Oct 06, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
The nation owes the Kaietuer News for fulfilling its role as a watchdog in our country. It was this very newspaper that broke the story of the volume of corruption taking place at the Guyana Elections Commission. Strangely, however, the other newspapers have not been doing enough to bring these details to its reader. The state media is totally mute on the issue.
The media house must be complimented for publishing the many letters, attempting to expose the corrupted recruitment practices during elections 2015. However, there was not much action taken. Considering the heaps of letters written against GECOM during that period, how come this entity was given the free pass since then? Perhaps, the nation was too busy with the election results. But who else is taking note? Where are the transparency agents in Guyana?
Thus far it seems that all this effort from this newspaper will go in vain simply because of the autonomous status GECOM enjoys. Considering the chairman will be resigning soon, and only one set of commissioners expressed their anger at the happenings, who really will hold GECOM accountable? Will our divided Parliament cooperate for this cause at least, only time will tell? Will the APNU Commissioners demand that Lowenfield and others resign?
It is strange however that in the other agencies, where audits were done, a number of staff were sent on administrative leave to facilitate same. So far according to the media, the GECOM official in the middle of the scandal is on vacation leave. The nation needs to know if all of the CEO’s assistants are still on the job while investigations are being done. It is disappointing for an institution who is supposed to be transparent finds itself in this position. Guyanese now think that perhaps the PPP/C position is correct-the bias employment system, fake statement of polls, among other claims.
Last week, a letter was submitted about labor exploitation at GECOM. The nation needs to know if any effort was made to validate such claims. What actions are taken by the Ministry of Social Protection to address labour problems at GECOM? Will GECOM be given a free pass again? This very newspaper published a letter about a driver complaining that he was not paid for overtime. Did anyone do any follow up from the media house?
From all indications, as a daily reader, the time has come for a major reshuffling at GECOM. Perhaps, in the interest of transparency, no officer should serve in GECOM for more than 5 years. Since it is important for GECOM to enjoy autonomy, yet be free of corruption. Thank you for looking out for the nation Kaieteur News.
Concerned Reader

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