Moreover, GECOM had never and will never treat these two entities with bias either collectively or individually, the GECOM chairman said.
According to the GECOM release, this guarantee was given during a meeting with a team representing these parties along with Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Gerry Gouveia, who attended the meeting as an observer with the agreement of GECOM and the AFC and GAP-ROAR.
At the meeting which was held at the GECOM Boardroom on November 24, the AFC team comprised Raphael Trotman, Leader, A. Griffith, Chief Scrutineer, Clayton Hall, David Patterson and Martin Cheong; while GAP-ROAR was represented by Everall Franklin.
And representing GECOM were Dr Surujbally, Chief Election Officer Gocool Boodoo, and Commissioners Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin, Dr Keshav Mangal, Moen McDoom, Mahmood Shaw and Robert Williams, the release said.
It noted also that the primary issue raised by the Leader of the AFC for discussion is that the AFC and GAP-ROAR feel that relations with GECOM must be improved. Trotman said further that these parties feel “estranged” from the Commission and this should not be the case.
He referred specifically to the case of the AFC having to uplift the accreditation cards for scrutineers appointed by his party from the PNCR.
Acknowledging, however, that it is the Leader of the Opposition who must submit the names of scrutineers to GECOM for accreditation, he pointed out that an administrative arrangement could have been put in place for the AFC to uplift the accreditation cards for its scrutineers directly from GECOM.
And responding to this position, Boodoo said that the accreditation cards for all scrutineers appointed to work for and on behalf of the combined opposition political parties in parliament had been submitted to him by PNCR Leader Robert Corbin in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition.
Consequently, the accreditation cards had been packaged for delivery to Corbin, and had been uplifted by a representative of the PNCR and handed over to the Leader of the Opposition, Boodoo explained.
In addition to this explanation, the Chairman assured the AFC and GAP-ROAR that the concerns expressed by Trotman “will be given the fullest consideration during the Commission’s 273rd Statutory Meeting.”
Further, he gave the Commission’s commitment to work towards bringing the relationship between GECOM and the AFC and GAP-ROAR to a mutually satisfactory level, but he maintained that the achievement of this high point would only be achieved through committed efforts from both sides.
Dr. Surujbally noted though, the release added, that improving the relationship is a two-way course, and that comments from the AFC regarding GECOM must be based on truth.
Meanwhile, Gouveia reiterated a comment which he had made during a meeting between GECOM and the PSC on November 18, pointing out that there is no lack of confidence within the PSC relative to the capacity, ability and willingness of the Commission to honour its mandates.
However, the AFC Leader said that he preferred to reserve any similar comment until he would have had the opportunity to observe future interactions between GECOM and the AFC and GAP-ROAR, the release added.
