Latest update January 18th, 2025 5:10 AM
The comedians are coming out in their numbers, and it’s not carnival
DEAR EDITOR,
A letter revealing the opinion and suggestions of the WPA on the current imbroglio, surrounding the selection of a new GECOM chair in light of the CCJ’s decision, leaves much to be desired in its logical reasoning and perspective. The letter, “A non-Guyanese for GECOM chair should be a last resort”, authored by Dr. David Hinds, reeks of biasness, poor judgment and is out of sync with the present political realities.
Dr. Hinds wrote, “Our understanding is that the CCJ has proposed a modification of the current formulae by requiring the two leaders to jointly participate in the compilation of a list of six nominees from which the President would eventually choose the chairperson in keeping with his constitutional mandate.”
Is that so? I can’t recall reading anything about the CCJ, “requiring the two leaders to jointly participate in the compilation of a list of six nominees” – Dr. Hind’s words. My understanding is that the CCJ suggests that the President and the Opposition Leader seek consensus in selecting a new chairman for GECOM in light of its ruling that the unilateral appointment of Patterson was unconstitutional, to facilitate the holding of elections in the shortest possible time in relevance to the validity of the NCM. Dr. Hinds opined that the WPA views the “two leaders to jointly participate in compiling the list,” as “a more acceptable approach since it greatly reduces, if not eliminate, the scope for unilateralism by both the president and the opposition leader”. I have seen this line about unilateral appointment of a list by the Opposition Leader, made by several commentators before Dr. Hinds. This comment mirrors Dr. Hind’s with a torch in hand too! How surreal and comical it is for the President to contribute a name or names to a list of six when he gets the ultimate choice of one from the said list. This is the recipe for unilateralism recycled. The Opposition Leader is required to select six trustworthy people in consultation with “the non-governmental parties in the assembly” (in this case, there is no other non-governmental party in the Assembly, should the Opposition Leader create some?) and place their names on a list, which is submitted to the President, who is required to select one person. Obviously, the one he deemed to be most trustworthy will be GECOM chair. This has been the orthodox method since the advent of the Carter/Price formulae. None of the former presidents had refused to choose from the lists provided by the opposition leaders, which invariably came from the same PNC and later APNU.
President Granger’s slothfulness or perceived reluctance to meet with the Opposition Leader to seek consensus on the issue before the CCJ issues consequential orders is akin to saying that he is Alpha and Omega- and will wait to see, what can the CCJ order him to do! Given the politically charged situation over the appointment of a GECOM chair; Dr. Hinds considers the Opposition Leader mentioning the possibility of non-Guyanese commonwealth citizens be considered for the position” as an “attractive proposal”. Nevertheless, Dr. Hinds wrote, “WPA thinks it should be a last resort. We should exhaust all options at home before looking abroad.” Attractive but not good enough! This logic from Dr. Hinds here is gravity defying- on the bandwagon of the delaying tacticians!
Dr. Hinds wrote,“Although WPA prefers the leaders to jointly agree to all six candidates, it would have no objection to them each nominating three.” This is asinine and atrocious beyond belief. This could see the President nominating James Patterson and electing him again for GECOM chair. The comedians are coming out in their numbers and it’s not carnival.
Rudolph Singh
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