Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo says the way has been paved regarding the process that will be used in the submission of names for the next Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
Jagdeo was at the time addressing media operatives in Georgetown today shortly after he exited his meeting with President David Granger.
He told media operatives that the engagement between himself and the Head of State was “relatively productive”, adding that both sides have come to a consensus that the matter is so important that it should be settled within days.
“So, we’re hoping that with good faith, that [with] negotiations on both sides, we can resolve the matter of the new GECOM Chairman within a matter of days,” The politician said.
He added that both sides have agreed to produce smaller groups from each side to come together and “hammer out” names.
While reiterating the submission of names is a constitutional responsibility of the Opposition Leader, he said that his party is not averse to the president adding to the pool.
Outlining the process, the PPP leader explained that he will start by submitting an amended list containing the names that were rejected by the President in 2016 prior to the appointment of the former Chairman, Justice (Retired) James Patterson.
“We will start with resubmission of the 18 names — appropriately adjusted for people who may not want to have their names resubmitted. So, we’ll use those names as a starting point to go back through each name to see if we can come up with six names from that list. Should we not agree on all six names coming from that 18, we will supply additional names,” Jagdeo said.
Justice Patterson demitted office in keeping with the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that his appointment was “flawed” and thereby unconstitutional.
The appointment of a GECOM chairman is crucial at this juncture since the no-confidence motion secured by the Parliamentary Opposition at the regional court has triggered the call for the nation to return to the polls.
