Granger rules out overseas person for GECOM Chairperson

Jun 23, 2017 News

President David Granger has ruled out considering appointing a foreigner to assume the position of Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission.

President David Granger

Granger was asked during an interview for his ‘Public Interest’ televised programme to respond to claims that he intends to choose a foreigner for the position. He said that choosing someone who lives out of Guyana is not necessary, “I don’t think it is possible, I don’t think it is desirable.”
Addressing the two lists of nominees that were presented to him by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, Granger said that one danger which exists is that some names may appear on the list which do not conform to the criteria and that narrows his choice.
“I have to have six names from which to choose, and if five of them are unqualified, or not considered to be fit and proper, I have no choice.”
Granger said that if all six names do not qualify, Jagdeo therefore drives him into picking one person. The President said that he will not be driven into picking from one person; he needs to have a choice of six.
“That is what the constitution calls for and that is what I insist on.”
When asked whether he has indicated to Jagdeo names which might be acceptable or those that are not, Granger said that the appointment of the GECOM Chairperson could have been settled in a week.
However, this was not possible since the two lists submitted were not consistent with the constitution. He reminded that when the first list was rejected, he was asked by Jagdeo to define his criteria.
“I sent a list of my criteria and they have not been challenged. My criteria have not been challenged. So when the second list came…even a blind man could see that there were names on the list which could not conform to the criteria.”
Meanwhile, the Guyana Bar Association has made amicus submissions in the matter involving businessman Marcel Gaskin, Attorney General, Basil Williams and Jagdeo. Gaskin had approached the court asking for an interpretation of the term ‘fit and proper person’ contained in Article 161 (2) of Guyana’s Constitution. This article speaks to the appointment of the GECOM Chairperson.

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