IAC wants Granger to reconsider rejection of second GECOM list

Jun 06, 2017 News

The Indian Action Committee (IAC) is calling on President David Granger to reconsider his rejection of the second list of nominees for the Chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission.

President David Granger

The list which was submitted by Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, was formally rejected last Friday via a letter from the President. The Constitution of Guyana provides for the Leader of the Opposition to submit a list of six names to the President from which he shall choose one person to sit as Chairperson of GECOM.
The IAC said in a press statement, that it is bewildered and disappointed by the actions of the President. The organisation said that it had participated in the civil society consultation convened by the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and found that like the first list of nominees, the second list represented Guyanese who were in accordance with the Constitution and were ‘fit and proper’ to hold the key position.
“The IAC urges the President in his planned meeting with the Leader of the Opposition to reconsider his stance and act in accordance with the constitution and the Carter Formula in naming a Chairman of GECOM.”
It has been said that Granger’s rejection of the two lists indicate his intention to unilaterally appoint a Chairperson. According to Article 161 (2), “if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds or has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge.”
The organisation said that for the President to act unilaterally and in violation of the relevant constitutional provision, Article 161 (2), he will do severe harm to social stability and social cohesion as it would put the democratic and electoral systems in grave danger.
Since rejecting Jagdeo’s second list last Friday, the President has moved to invite the Opposition Leader to a consultation meeting on Monday June 12, 2017 at State House, Carmichael Street, Georgetown.
The invitation was made to Jagdeo through the Minister of State Joseph Harmon who wrote Jagdeo representing the President.
Harmon explained to Jagdeo in the letter that the consultation concerns statements attributed to him, and made in the media regarding Granger’s letter to Jagdeo rejecting the second list of nominees.
The persons which were nominated on the second list were: Justice of Appeal B.S Roy (ret’d), Justice William Ramlal (ret’d), Ms Oneidge Walrond-Allicock, Attorney-at-law Kashir Khan, Attorney-at-law Nadia Sagar and Gerald Gouveia.
According to the Head of State, he has found this list to be unacceptable after examining the Curricula Vitae of the six persons in light of the criteria defined in his earlier letter to Jagdeo and within the meaning of the Constitution.
The President had announced his rejection of Jagdeo’s first list of nominees in January during the Annual Media Brunch at State House. The names on the first list were: Lawrence Latchmansingh, Rhyaan Shah, James Rose, Norman McLean, Ramesh Dookoo and Christopher Ram.

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