GECOM Chair should resign

Dec 15, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

In a society that has a strong civil society presence by now there should have been calls for resignation of two officers at GECOM. Last week, this nation listened to a testimony from the Chairperson of GECOM and no doubt drawn the conclusion that she is not fit and proper for the post she currently holds.

Tax payers have to foot a monthly bill that includes a massive stipend plus a mammoth of fringe benefits. The question is; are they getting the value by way of performance from this Officer. Stabroek News Editorial puts it best- the current Chairperson should not be allowed to sit at the helm of GECOM given her inaction role.

She has not seen it fit even immediately post elections to call a Press Conference to inform the public of all that transpired and even lodge a report about her fears. Had it not been for the President Ali COI, this nation would have never known about her poor decision making abilities at that crucial time. I wonder if a Presiding Officer at the count of ballots decides that he/she needs a break at a time when the ballot box is opened. I wonder if staff said they need to lock themselves in a room because they are not feeling OK during registration. Given her testimony, her conduct itself therefore will cause her subsequent decisions to be questioned. Already it is on record that many times the votes are 4-3 at GECOM with her siding with the PPP Commissioners most times. The most glaring was the appointment of the CEO.

Last week, a GECOM Commissioner spoke about the competency that obtains currently at the Secretariat which is headed by a CEO, she supported. Mind you in the race for CEO, there were several more qualified and competent candidates. It is the first time in the history that election is pushed back after date has been announced… who is to be blamed?

Again there are six Commissioners, well paid, a Chairperson, well paid CEO. They are all responsible for the current state. Why is it now that the CEO realises that a Claims and Objection is necessary to bring conformity with the acts governing the preparation of the list of Local Government Elections. Is there a Legal Officer at GECOM? What has GECOM done since September 2020, to make its list credible?

In the lead to announcing a date, several times the CEO needed to be sent back to have his work plan revisited. In fact the media reported that the timeframe suggestions are unrealistic. This again points to the competency/ incompetency of the CEO. It is puzzling that yet there has been dead silence and not a motion for his removal. Staffers are complaining of his management style, but who is taking notes. Under the current CEO, weekend meal allowances have been slashed, long hours are required to work with no meals and the list goes on.

This is a CEO backed by the very Chairperson whose competency is under question. Even after one year of advertising vacancies, GECOM cannot fill them. Instead, where they are not satisfied with the pool, they manipulate the process as obtained in the appointment of an ACEO.

With all that is happening at GECOM, there should be an internal COI into the Commission workings. GECOM as an important body cannot be allowed to function with this level of incompetency.

Regards,

Paul Singh

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