Make GECOM Chairman contract public - Opposition MP

Make GECOM Chairman contract public – Opposition MP

Oct 12, 2018 News

An Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) has called for the release of the contract signed by Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission; (GECOM) retired Judge James Patterson.
Amidst controversy, retired High Court Judge, James Patterson, 84, was appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), by President David Granger last year October.
Granger opted to appoint Patterson to chair the Elections Commission after rejecting a list of potential candidates presented by Opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo.
The constitution requires that the President appoints a candidate to the post following consultation and approval of the Opposition Leader. Granger had nonetheless argued that Jadgeo failed to provide suitable candidates and hence the selection of Patterson as GECOM Chair.
The President’s choice of Patterson as GECOM Chair has resulted in several court cases challenging the appointment. Added to the litigation Opposition Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall has pointed out that a year will elapse since Patterson was appointed the Chairman of GECOM yet no one has seen a copy of his contract of service.
Nandlall noted that every Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission signed a contract of service upon their appointment.
“It is this contract that contains the terms and conditions of service, inclusive of the remuneration package and benefits to which the office holder is entitled.
Yet to date, no one has seen a copy of (Patterson’s) contract of service, despite repeated requests from the Opposition Commissioners at the Commission for a copy of the contract to be brought before the Commission for their perusal.”
The Parliamentarian said, too, that the position is not a private office but a public and constitutional one paid from public funds (taxpayers’ dollars).
“Therefore this contract, its terms and conditions and the remuneration and benefits paid there under are not secrets but information to which the public is entitled.” He raised concerns about the secrecy behind the appointment.
”Why the secrecy? Why this contract is not being made public? Is this another cover-up like the disastrous Petroleum contract with the oil companies? Is this another sweet heart deal? Alternatively, is there no contract? Either way, the Guyanese people need to know? Don’t you?” Nandlall questioned.
Last October, the President said that being desirous of fulfilling the requirements of the Constitution and given the need of appointing the chair of GECOM and in light of the failure of Jagdeo to present him with a list that is not unacceptable, he decided that it would be in the public interest to resort to the proviso in the Constitution under Article 161: 2, which permits him to act independently and appoint a person of the judicial category to be chairman of the elections body.
“That is the person who is presumptively fit and proper,” he said as he noted Justice Patterson’s appointment. He expressed confidence in the new chair.
He urged all Guyanese to support the Constitution of a fully-appointed Commission in the undertaking of future elections.
The President spoke of Justice Patterson’s ability, noting his judicial experience, including as a former chief justice in the island of Grenada.
“I do believe he brings to the position years of experience, in addition to which we are looking for persons of integrity, impartiality and independence,” the President said of his choice. The President noted that he could not discuss his reasons for rejecting the third list of nominees, noting that on the whole, it was unacceptable.

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