GECOM Chair should act to reduce tension

Jun 02, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

The GECOM chair Claudette Singh has come under a lot of fire over recent revelations, some not justified. It may be wise for the chair to hold a press conference to address some concerns raised. This is necessary to reduce tension.
I have read harsh criticisms against the Chair with some going as far saying she is compromised and loyal to APNU-led coalition. Many I spoke with cannot concur with this assumption as this is not the Judge I got to know from my readings of court judgments and comments I obtained from engagements with people in the legal profession about the recount process and her professionalism.
While my colleagues in various universities and institutions and even election officials in other countries around the world and some opposition politicians are laying the blame on the Chair for the problems of the original count, one must take cognizance of the challenges facing the chair. Guyana is not a normal country of law and order. It takes courage for someone like Justice Singh or any GECOM chair (Dr. Surujbally had his share of abuses) to stand up to some political figures and members of the commissioners. And it takes significant courage and fortitude to stand up to them and order a recount.
All legal luminaries I conversed with, including several in Trinidad and Jamaica, note that inquiring about elections day improprieties does not fall within the remit of a recount. They do not know the rationale behind the query to the Police Commissioner. She may have written the police commissioner to clarify an issue for her personal comfort and not necessarily for information to be used in the commission. She must be given the benefit of the doubt.
There is also a claim that the votes of disciplinary services were not stamped and as such not counted. Thus far, as revealed by the recount, some 2,600 ballots were rejected; of these, less than 100 rejected ballots were not stamped. Legal luminaries note that the Chair’s decision to pursue an investigation of voters would not compromise the recount or prevent a declaration. The law does not allow for an election nullification by GECOM; that can only be done by the court. A press conference would help to clarify this and several other concerns. The chair should face the critics in the media. She must do whatever it would take to make people have greater confidence in GECOM and in her leadership in particular. She must also act to end all the negative rumours so as to reduce political tensions.
Those who dealt with Judge Singh say overall she is a professional who would not be inclined to compromise her integrity. They feel she would make the right decision. Also, people in the legal profession, who I conversed with, feel the Chair will bring the recount to a conclusion. There is no reason to feel otherwise. There are also some political figures who do not think the Chair will do anything to scuttle the recount process.
I rather believe the Chair will walk on the right path and be remembered as the mother of democracy in Guyana. To do otherwise would be suicidal to her legacy. It is critical to bring the recount process to an end and let GECOM do the inevitable.

Yours Truly,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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