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GECOM’s makeup… AFC says Carter formula has outlived its usefulness
Kaieteur News – The Alliance for Change (AFC) has echoed the sentiments of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) saying that the Carter Price formula which determines the makeup of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has outlived its usefulness.
Party chairman, David Patterson told journalists Friday that the AFC and country are concerned about the functioning and composition of GECOM.
Chairman of the party David Patterson
“There have been proposals submitted by the Alliance for Change and other stakeholders for the inclusion of other persons, other than political parties, into the commission, the recommendation was to allow (the expansion of) GECOM to include two or three members of civil society chosen by a transparent process. And we do hope that this shall be looked at in the future,” he said.
Patterson explained that the formula was derived in the 1990’s and enshrined into the constitution, however “It has long outlived its usefulness, and we do think, as a modern country with resources, that we have a more inclusionary representative GECOM should would be, should be implemented.”
He said his party made recommendations before to include term limits for both commissioners and chairman. According to him, a commissioner should serve five years with eligibility for reappointment. The chair, however, should serve only seven years.
He said AFC believes that by rotating the chair and commissioners, there will be better representation and implementation of policies and recommendations.
AFC’s concern was already expressed by co-leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds, who said that current make-up of the commission was outdated.
“No constitution could adequately anticipate sharp changes in electoral behavior and their impact on institutions. In fact, the very make-up of GECOM as enshrined in the constitution may have outlived its usefulness,” he stressed.
The way the 2025 elections were conducted and the outcome of the recent elections, as well as the aftermath, raises once again the issue of constitutional reform. “It has been twenty-five years since Guyana had its last meaningful constitutional reform exercise. Since that time there have been calls for another look at the rules and laws that govern our country, especially in the areas of governance and election,” Dr Hinds said.
The politician noted that both major parties have paid lip service to the issue as neither has made a move with a sense of purpose to ensure the much-needed reform. In addition, the appointment of the constitutional reform commission in the last years of the previous term of government, in his eyes, turned out to be nothing more than an election gimmick.
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