Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo has submitted 11 names to President David Granger for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), four days after both leaders met in Georgetown to chart the way forward on filling the vacant post.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Gail Teixeira wrote to the Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon, entailing the names of the 11 candidates. These candidates are Gerry Gouveia (Captain); Joseph Singh (Retired Major General); Annette Arjoon-Martins; BS Roy (Retired Justice of Appeal); Kashir Khan (attorney-at-law); Krishnadatt Persaud (former Senior magistrate); Lawrence Latchmansingh; Norman McLean (Retired Major General); Onesi La Fleur; Ramesh Dookhoo; and William Ramlall (Retired Puisne Judge).
The appointment of a GECOM chairman is crucial at this juncture since the no-confidence motion secured by the Parliamentary Opposition at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has triggered the call for the nation to return to the polls.
Last Thursday, Jagdeo 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.
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.
Justice Patterson demitted office in keeping with the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that his appointment was “flawed” and thereby unconstitutional.
