The political opposition says it has lost all confidence in Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh. Its position is premised on the recent appointment of former IT Manager, Aneal Giddings as Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO).
Specifically addressing the issue today was the People’s National Congress Reform during its weekly press conference. There, Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton was asked to say what action the party intends to take regarding Giddings’ appointment, as well as others it may deem to be political in nature.
“We will do what it takes to ensure that GECOM gets proper personnel, generally, because as it stands, they are taking political hacks and filling GECOM. And if you are talking about impact, one impact is that elections would never be credible in Guyana once you have a commission that is controlled by the People’s Progressive Party,” Norton said.
The official again was asked to posit exactly what move the party will make with regard to “questionable” appointments. Despite being challenged again, Norton was clearly reluctant to reveal the party’s plans on this front. He only noted that legal action is just one of several steps that would be explored.
Meanwhile, PNCR Executive Elson Low, accused Justice Singh of not being impartial when selecting senior members to serve on the elections body. “Recent appointments of senior staff have again exposed Claudette Singh’s incapacity and unwillingness to ensure GECOM can win the trust and confidence of the Guyanese public,” Low said.
He continued, “Instead of seeking to foster compromise and consensus among GECOM commissioners, she has allowed the tyranny of the majority to prevail. She has used her casting vote to override or ignore well-established administrative laws, rules, and principles.”
The Economic Advisor said that based on record, this is the third time that GECOM has appointed a candidate to fill a senior position, who has not met the mandatory requirements.
