Dear Editor,
The million-dollar question on everyone’s mind is: Who is in control at GECOM?
This illegal Government have done it again, they are in full control of the electoral body through their strategically-elected and most vocal commissioners.
The Government-appointed commissioners seem to be the ones calling the shots at GECOM, and they are doing so with the usual PNC rigging precision.
GECOM Chairman Claudette Singh cannot play amnesiac to the fact that she is oblivious to the machinations of these commissioners, because she is well acquainted with Guyana’s electoral history and the notorious PNC. As an elder statesperson and judge, she would have witnessed the many instances where the PNC mortally wounded the democratic process with their rigging. Having that detailed background knowledge of our despicable electoral past, it behooves the GECOM Chairman to assert herself and take leadership responsibility of the election body, and not be led.
The present situation leaves much to be desired, and that is our main concern. It is clear that this chair is being led. She has allowed herself to be put into that position while the Government actors are relentless with their agenda to rig the elections, and this has to be stopped. The Chairman has to put a halt to that process by making her own statements as well as issuing definitive and straightforward directives bearing her signature, and not the other way round. Guyana cannot afford to go down that road of rigged elections again, and the time to rectify the process is now.
A key area wherein the notorious three are hanging their hopes is “fixing” the computers in the Information Technology Department. For this very same reason, we have asked for international help to oversee this critical area. To our dismay, the response from GECOM CEO Lowenfield is that the Commission does not need any assistance.
Now, this is certainly out of the domain of the CEO, who is in no position to issue such a statement. This is a resolve of the Chairwoman herself; she is the one mandated to make such decisions as head of the Elections Commission, not Lowenfield. Acting like a sheep in such circumstances of brazen usurpation of power is a cause for great concern.
GECOM Chairman Claudette Singh must be held accountable for this. Why hasn’t she come out and made a clear directive on this matter? Why is she silent? At a time when our democracy is under siege by a group of Government appointees, this chairwoman is deafeningly silent. Why is she not coming out and making it clear where she stands on this matter?
The point is: We need all the help we can get from the international bodies, especially the UN, on the conduct of free and fair elections, and here we have a chair who is allowing the CEO to dictate on the matter.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams