Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
GECOM Chairman says hiring system has been used for decades – IAC calls for Commission of Inquiry
GECOM Chairman, James Patterson
Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice James Patterson (ret’d) says that the system used for the hiring of staff at the entity has been in place for decades. However, the Indian Action Committee (IAC) yesterday called on President David Granger to launch an immediate investigation, primarily through a Commission of Inquiry (COI).
“In the interest of national harmony and confidence in the electoral process, the IAC urges the Head of State, David Granger, to not delay the commissioning of an independent COI into the employment practice at GECOM,” the IAC stated.
In recent weeks, there has been fierce public debate over the process that led to Vishnu Persaud, the highest-ranked candidate at the evaluation stage, being turned down for the post of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO).
“This is the system that was in place for decades. I challenge anyone to dispute my claim that GECOM is the best run bureaucracy in Guyana,” Patterson stated in a letter published by Kaieteur News.
In the case of the DCEO position, the seven-member commission was split along political lines 3-3, until Patterson used his casting vote in favour of Roxanne Meyers, who had the support of the Government Commissioners.
Persaud had secured the votes of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
“The COI, through its findings, must also thoroughly explain why Mr. Vishnu Persaud, who reportedly scored the highest in the evaluation process, and who has some three years on the job experience, was deliberately overlooked for the position of DCEO, which he held, by someone who scored lower and believably has no related job experience,” the IAC noted.
LEGAL OFFICER
While there is a view that the DCEO’s hiring may be linked to race, GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, has stated that this was not the first time that Patterson had used his casting vote against a top-ranked candidate.
He stated that a few weeks ago, the position of Legal Officer engaged the Commission. According to Alexander, there was a hung decision of the interviewing panel, which resulted in the matter being determined by the full Commission.
Alexander noted that in that instance, the Chairman‘s decisive vote coincided with the votes of the PPP, and the candidate with the highest score was not offered the job. According to Alexander, the affected candidate was an Afro-Guyanese. In that instance, the PPP did not publicly object.
The person who was hired for the job of Legal Officer was identified as Excellence Dazzell
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has walked away from some of his party’s utterances that the Persaud issue was linked to his ethnicity and the fact that an Afro-Guyanese was selected over an Indo-Guyanese who had more experience, having served previously as the DCEO.
In response to questions from Kaieteur News, Jagdeo said that the GECOM hiring policy concerns were not about race, but fairness.
Patterson has stated that he agrees with the position taken by Jagdeo.
“No, I am not accusing the Leader of larceny of my idea but rather I do applaud him for having the courage and indeed, gonads, to enunciate a principled position,” Patterson stated.
COI NEEDED
The IAC is of the firm belief that given what has been made public regarding the issue and the uncertainty which continues to prevail over what is factual, the circumstances demand that level of intervention.
Further, the IAC noted that it becomes compelling, given the national sensitivities involved and the impact it could have on the credibility of GECOM and the national election machinery.
The focus, according to the organisation, must be on the revelation of facts about whether the integrity of the process has been deliberately compromised to give an unfair advantage to those perceived to be in allegiance with the government, as alleged.
The IAC said it is also mindful of information in the public domain which alleges the composition of the senior staff at GECOM reflecting only one ethnic group, and an allegation that applicants of Indo-Guyanese extraction were deliberately scored low in the evaluation process.
Photo: Justice James Patterson
Caption: GECOM Chairman, James Patterson
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