New Deputy Chief Election Officer appointed  

Former Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Vishnu Persaud was yesterday sworn in as the Deputy Chief Election Officer.

A statement from GECOM said that Persaud was sworn in yesterday following approval for his appointment by the electoral body.  The position is twinned with that of Deputy  Commissioner of Registration.

GECOM said that Persaud’s appointment flowed from a transparent recruitment process which involved (i) advertising the vacant position, (ii) receiving applications and shortlisting candidates, and (iii) the conduct of interviews by a panel comprising the GECOM Chairman, four Commissioners and the Chief Election Officer.

Prior to this appointment, Persaud served as GECOM’s Public Relations Officer from November 2001.  The statement said that Persaud also served GECOM in the capacity of Scribe to the commission from 2004 to April this year, and as Personal Assistant to the Chairman from 2002 up to the point of his current appointment.  It added that. Persaud has been integrally involved in GECOM ‘s Public Education campaigns and promoting the image of the Commission.

The statement said that Persaud holds the Diploma in Public Relations from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and the Level 5 Certificate in Elections Management from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), both in the United Kingdom.