Current GECOM Cannot Deliver Free, Fair and Credible Elections

Dear Editor,

To be credible, elections must be fair and transparent and give the appearance of fairness. The last two general elections fell way short of being fair, transparent, and giving an appearance of fairness. The current members of GECOM were responsible for those elections failures. They are as follows:

Retired Justice Claudette Singh, Chairperson;

PPPC regime commissioners:

Sase Gunraj – Member

Clement Rohee – Member

Manoj Narayan – Member

PNCR/APNU/AFC COALITION Commissioners:

Vincent Alexander- Member

Charles Corbin – Member

Desmond Trotman – Member

Except for the corrupt, kleptocratic, repressive and undemocratic PPPC regime, whose self interests are to maintain the status quo,  Guyanese know that GECOM has failed to deliver free, fair, transparent, and credible elections over the last two election cycles. Even the self serving former Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Compton Norton, and his equally self serving GECOM commissioners know that the institution has failed. Yet, we find ourselves in a situation again, where the failed PNCR/APNU Coalition leadership is fighting to maintain the status quo, just like the PPPC regime.

Whether it’s sports, business, or education, if an organisation fails, changes are implemented so that we may increase that institution’s chances of success. Why would anyone want to continue contesting elections in Guyana using the same GECOM commissioners and the same Chairperson.

GECOM consists of commissioners from the PPPC regime, and from the Aubrey Norton-led PNCR/APNU Coalition, and an untrustworthy Chairperson. Those two political parties are undemocratic and the Chairperson is mainly interested in personal safety and survival. Thus, it’s madness to expect the PPPC regime commissioners and the Norton led PNCR/APNU Coalition commissioners and an untrustworthy Chairperson, to be able to deliver free, fair, transparent, democratic elections.

Ali doesn’t believe in democracy; Jagdeo doesn’t believe in democracy; Norton doesn’t believe in democracy; the PPPC regime commissioners don’t believe in democracy; the Norton led PNCR/APNU Coalition commissioners don’t believe in democracy; GECOM Chairperson, Claudette Singh, doesn’t care about democracy, and the judiciary, including the CCJ, ignores Guyana’s problematic elections. 

Therefore, it’s pointless contesting elections with the current GECOM framework and personnel. Thus, WIN and the other opposition parties should consider making Guyana ungovernable until GECOM is dismantled, and free and fair elections are guaranteed.  

Yours truly,
Brian Collison