While Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally considers a response to the government, which has blamed him for the failure to run off local government polls this year, one political leader feels he is being made a scapegoat.
The accusations made by the Office of the President (OP) on Monday that Surujbally wasted time and money came on the heels of various expressions of disappointment by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and President Bharrat Jagdeo, who accused the chairman of pointing the blame elsewhere, rather than at his own doorstep.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Surujbally told Stabroek News that he was considering a response to the statements, which may be ready today or tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Robert Corbin, who is currently out of the country, told this newspaper yesterday that the post of chairman was a constitutional one and he felt Surujbally was capable of defending himself. Corbin further stated that he felt that the people of Guyana will have to judge.
Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan went further, saying that he felt there was mischief afoot and Surujbally was just being used as the scapegoat. He pointed out that the commission could only operate with the right finances and legislation in place. As a result, Ramjattan said he found it ludicrous for the President to lay the blame solely at the commission’s feet and have the constitutional office under the attack in the context of delayed release of funds and the late passage of pertinent legislation. “They just want to do mischief and so are setting the groundwork by using GECOM as the scapegoat,” he said.
He opined that the government has delayed the release of funds to the commission so more time would elapse and then would argue that the time between this election and the general elections–slated for 2011–was too short and that both could not be afforded in such a short time.
Ramjattan said his party’s groundwork has shown that at present many persons, even PPP supporters, are very critical of the administration, which does not view the current atmosphere as being suitable for the holding of local government elections. “So GECOM is only being used as a scapegoat,” he explained, insisting that “to put the blame on GECOM is just their way out and so they can point out to the international community that the commission has been causing the delay.”
Additionally, Ramjattan stated that he felt that the government wanted Surujbally to be removed as chairman and so it was placing additional pressure on him so he would take the initiative. “When they can’t get you to be their moron, they drive fear in you and this is what they are doing to Surujbally,” he added
Meanwhile, Guyana Action Party/Rise Organise and Rebuild (GAP/ROAR) Member of Parliament Everall Franklin has taken the position of bewilderment at what has taken place. How-zever, he noted that the commission included commissioners nominated by the ruling PPP/C. “So I find it strange that the chairman is under attack when the government has its commissioners there as well who represent its interest. I am confused as to why it reached that stage,” he confessed.
Franklin further said the attacks did not seem to be genuine and do not warrant much thought. “They know exactly what’s going on,” he exclaimed.
In a statement on Monday, GINA said government was concerned that Surujbally had sought to defend himself against the pointed criticisms by the OP about the delay in holding local government election this year. It accused Surujbally of squandering money, opportunity and goodwill in his failure to run off the election on time.
Government alleged that he sought to distance himself and the commission from the responsibility for the delay by pointing his fingers at the president. The statement accused GECOM of planning activities consecutively instead of simultaneously and added that the time lost was never regained. It also accused him of imposing “his will with regard to the ejection of the use of valid documents for registration, an unfortunate decision that discredited and worse, delayed the registration exercise.”
