Justice Claudette Singh’s appointment brings a breath of fresh air

Aug 01, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) welcomes the consensual appointment of retired Justice Claudette Singh, S.C to the post as Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). After years of the position being held by a man, this is a plus for inclusion, gender equity, and another achievement for women in leadership roles in our society.
Justice Singh’s appointment comes at a very crucial time when we are rapidly losing the ability to come together as a united people bound by common interest to move Guyana forward; when forces stoke political and ethnic distrust, confidence in our judicial and government systems, constitutional offices, each other, and even rank and file workers who are placed at risk for their safety in the daily execution of their duty.
We are in a period where persons are being made afraid to trust where the lines between right and wrong, good and bad are becoming blurred and dependent on who is doing to, or saying what about whom.
Justice Claudette Singh is a breath of fresh air in a highly toxic environment. Her role at GECOM is expected to enhance the confidence reposed in this Office.
We note that despite leaders of high repute and prominence, most of whom have given exemplary service, GECOM has had its share of controversy.
Despite these incidents, Guyana must have trust in this most significant constitutional office. We must have people who must operate above the political fray. Let us not be naïve to the perception that persons don’t have a political horse in the race. What we want is notwithstanding the political horse in the race their integrity, professionalism and commitment to good stewardship of GECOM must see them operating at a level above partisanship. They must recognise that they are entrusted in a position of power to steer the ship of Guyana and trust is important.
In this process it is not about who wins elections, but the small man must have the confidence that his/her vote counts in equal measure. GTUC today places that trust and confidence in Justice Claudette Singh S.C.
GTUC expects that having agreed on this person, both sides – Government and Opposition – will give her the necessary cooperation. There should be more positive engagement that will not result in walkouts, but will see both sides hammering out differences at the level of the commissioners. Any attempt to bully or usurp Justice Singh’s role and authority, to denigrate and vilify or unjustly seek to undermine her integrity and the office of GECOM will not be tolerated.
All parties concerned should be encouraged by her statement of commitment to a free, fair and transparent election. These are critical to ensuring an election that is not only free and fair but free from fear and respecting the right of every eligible citizen to register, to uninhibitedly cast his/her vote in the correct district, and for all votes to be duly counted and accurately declared. The integrity of the vote is not limited to what goes into the ballot box or what is counted from the ballot box, but the initial process of registration to the final process of declaration, as had been Guyana’s experience.
Now that the Chair has been duly appointed, GTUC calls on all politicians and those with vested interest in interfering in the operations of this institution to leave this constitutional body to function independent of their interference.
MATTERS OF GOVERNANCE STILL TO BE ADDRESSED
GTUC calls on President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo to further engage and address the burning issues of day-to-day governance. Our political leaders are still to arrive at a consensual position/guidelines how government ought to function in caretaker role.
They can now find time to turn attention to help this nation arrive at consensual position attending to local content in the management of the oil and gas sector. Also, we are yet to give true meaning to Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution which stipulates the “political system” by which we should be governed.
This election is the most consequential of our lifetime. It is not lost on us that while many may see this as an ethnic census, an opportunity to ascend to office, this nation continues to see a system of governance that is more exclusionary than inclusionary.
Election is an element in governance but not the panacea to bring about good governance and social justice, which workers/citizens crave. In a diverse society such as ours, with historical ethnic tension, strife, division and marginalisation, it cannot be over-emphasised how important it is to put systems in place now to minimise these pitfalls.
Daily, citizens bear witness to news of another foreign group either arriving or seeking avenues to exploit our oil and gas resources, as we continue to wonder what is in store for us, and what mechanisms are being put in place to ensure the benefits of these resources are not expatriated to the benefit of others and for a few at home.
We cannot continue to think that a new government will fix our pressing problems/concerns when the possibility exists such may never happen. The opportunity presents itself now for both sides to come together and create a Local Content Policy that will allow all, equitable share and benefit of the nation’s patrimony.
GTUC reiterates the call for the meeting of minds among the political forces and civil society in charting a way forward through policy, programmes and legislative action. Such action is necessary for the good of country and all.
Guyana Trades Union Congress

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