Latest update November 17th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

The rules and principles of natural justice should apply in considering the removal of GECOM staff

Aug 03, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – The United Republican Party, in the person of its Chairman, recently sought to admonish “the now opposition appointed commissioners” for their offensive and magical behaviour in relation to their response to the motion to have Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo dismissed.
He contends that we are using delaying tactics. It is clear that the good Doctor is cockeyed. He sees us as delaying a motion tabled on June 1, 2021 but has nothing to say about the Director of Public Prosecution who after one year has still not started the prosecution of the substantive cases that are premised on the said whereas clauses that the motions proffered.
Like the ‘now government appointed commissioners’ he is “committed to pursuing the dismissal of the CEO, DCEO and RO.” He has already determined guilt and decided on the same penalty as the aforementioned Commissioners. Ironically, he also declares that his party “remains a party for the people and more so for justice to be dealt fairly.”
Exactly therein lies the issue. The ‘now government appointed commissioners’ seem not to know or don’t care to know that even in the instance where the Constitution empowers the Commission to remove staff, the legal system, of which the Constitution is the foundation, requires that any removal be done fairly. That means that the Rules/Principles of Natural Justice should apply. Those Rules require that the Officers should be given a Hearing, as has been determined by the Chairperson. It also means that the hearing should be free of bias. How can the Commissioners who have already, by virtue of the content of their motions and public statements, declared the Officers guilty and have even predetermined the penalty, be the prosecutors and adjudicators in the same cases? Their bias is not perceived. It has been declared.
In those circumstances, the “now opposition appointed commissioners” will not be party to a flawed process. We see Dr. Kanhai`s call as an embrace of the transgression of Natural Justice and will not be party to any such action. Dr. Kanhai and his ilk are the ones who need to close the gap between their rhetoric about justice and their call for action. For us, the position that we have taken has nothing to do with the substantive motion. We are demanding that the prescribed procedures be followed as Dr. Kanhai et al demanded, in the instance of the first election petition. They can’t be allowed to shift the goal post to achieve their predetermined result.
Dr. Kanhai should note that his revered Commissioners have since sought to amend their motions to avoid the inevitable ruling that they are biased and cannot participate in any such hearing. They are now calling for termination under the contractual provision, which provides for either party to terminate the contract by simply giving due notice. According to Commissioner Shadick`s public statement, ‘We want them out at any cost.’
On another note, Dr. Kanhai`s reference to the absence of two Commissioners from the initial meeting as a “disappearance” is very disrespectful. First, we did not disappear. We gave due notice of our attendance of the funeral of the late Winston Bentham. Secondly, matters of bereavement should not be the subject of politicking. Respect is due to the dead. I hope our “new” breed of politicians is guided by such precepts and practices.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Alexander GECOM Commissioner

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 15th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Hauls from Persaud and Farley highlight MVP Sports Girl’s U11 Football Tourney commencement

Hauls from Persaud and Farley highlight MVP Sports Girl’s U11...

Nov 17, 2024

Kaieteur Sports- The Petra Organisation’s MVP Sports Girl’s Under-11 Football Tournament kicked off in spectacular fashion yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue,...
Read More
Windies chase 219 for first win of T20 series against England

Windies chase 219 for first win of T20 series...

Nov 17, 2024

Motie joins Amazon Warriors Squad for GSL

Motie joins Amazon Warriors Squad for GSL

Nov 17, 2024

CWI announces West Indies Test Squad for Home Series against Bangladesh

CWI announces West Indies Test Squad for Home...

Nov 17, 2024

𝗗𝗖𝗕 U𝟭𝟱50-overs ‘Next Generation’ Inter-Association Tournament starts today

𝗗𝗖𝗕 U𝟭𝟱50-overs ‘Next...

Nov 17, 2024

Glasgow sets new scoring record as Golden Jaguars settle Barbados 4-1

Glasgow sets new scoring record as Golden Jaguars...

Nov 16, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]