Representatives of both President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo will meet this afternoon at 5 PM to discuss nominations for the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

This meeting, scheduled to be held at Castellani House, follows last Thursday’s meeting between President Granger and Jagdeo at the Ministry of the Presidency where the process of selecting a new GECOM Chairman was discussed. 

Today’s meeting is in keeping with the Caribbean Court of Justice’s ruling which said the two sides should work together to produce a list of persons to be considered for the post. 

Both leaders have decided to put together teams to assist in the nomination process.

President Granger will be represented by Vice President and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence; and Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo will be represented by PPP Executive Members Gail Teixeira and Anil Nandlall. The two teams will meet regularly to “hammer out” the names of persons to arrive at a list of six which the Leader of the Opposition will present to President Granger and from which the president would choose one person to be named as GECOM Chair. 

At a post-meeting press briefing, President Granger told the media that the discussions with Jagdeo were focused on the means to be adopted for the nomination and appointment of a Chairman of the Elections Commission.
The President has repeatedly said that unless and until the Chairman is appointed, the work of the Commission will not be able to move ahead as quickly as possible. 

President Granger said that the Leader of the Opposition is free to submit the names that have already been submitted on the three previously submitted lists. Jagdeo has also agreed to confirm that those persons are still willing to have their names forwarded. The Opposition Leader has since submitted a list of eleven persons to be considered from the previous lists submitted to the President.

These nominees 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).