Commissioners shoot down move to have Gecom PRO act as deputy chief election officer

An attempt to appoint Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Vishnu Persaud to act in the position of Deputy Chief Elections Officer was stymied after three commissioners objected to the proposal.

Stabroek News understands that at the last meeting of Gecom commissioners on Tuesday, a proposal was floated by a senior member of Gecom to appoint Persaud to act in the post. Deputy CEO Calvin Benn is on leave and is not expected to return to the post as he has informed Gecom that he does not want his contract renewed. However, after the proposal was floated, the three opposition commissioners reportedly immediately objected to it and the meeting moved on to other business.

Gecom recently appointed Keith Lowenfield as Chief Election Officer and National Registration Officer as it makes preparations for possible elections. Lowenfield had previously been functioning as acting Deputy CEO while Benn was acting CEO.

Civil society organisations and western missions have urged that all political parties work together for the staging