Article attempted to impugn the professionalism of S V Jones Associates

Dear Editor, 

S V Jones Associates, Management Consultants, must be permitted to comment on an article titled: ‘Sandra Jones Sworn in as GECOM Commissioner‘ appearing in the Guyana Times of Tuesday, May 8, 2012.

In the second paragraph of the article was the assertion that “Opposition Leader David Granger responded to critics who suggested that he was fulfilling a promise to Jones by selecting her.”

Carefully arranged five paragraphs later was the following link: “It was said that Jones played a ‘critical role’ in the Peoples’ National Congress’ primaries held last year that saw Granger being elected in a close race as the party’s presidential candidate. Granger nipped former Finance Minister under the PNC, Carl Greenidge by a mere 15 votes.”

The insinuation of collusion is clear – certainly in the mind of the author of the article, and presumably the supportive editor – for whom a copy of the report on the aforementioned event by S V Jones Associates, which was contracted as professional consultants to be the Returning Officer, is herewith made available, as it was to the media at the time.

The undersigned, an Associate of the company, was in fact the principal conductor of the exercise, hailed as the most transparent of its kind ever experienced in that political entity.

As the report will confirm, it was a totally arms-length arrangement for which there was never the inkling of any related consideration; quite apart from the fact that neither Sandra Jones nor I had met Mr Granger, nor indeed the other candidates (except Faith Harding) at the time. It is even more ludicrous for anybody to have predicted the availability of a place on the Gecom Commission, except of course an extremely deranged, even depraved mind.

Unlike Mr Granger, this correspondence is by no means in defence of Sandra Jones. But I take serious umbrage at any attempt to impugn the integrity of the professionalism with which S V Jones Associates has served the plethora of public and private sector organisations throughout the Caricom region, and internationally, for nearly two decades.

That Ms Jones’ personal character has been slandered by such perverse fictionalisation, with the possible negative impact on her professional well-being, provides certain cause for unwarranted stress.

Yours faithfully, 
E B John
Management Associate
S V Jones Associates
Management Consultants