Dear Editor,
I noticed that Dr Surujbally, in his parting shot, has joined a few minds who feel that the constitution seems to prefer a judge to be selected as the chairman of Gecom. Dr Surujbally has been quoted as saying, “It tells me that the focus of the framers was in fact to have a judge here,”
The architect of the process includes a President alive. Also, his representatives, including Dr Pastor, are still around so we do not have to guess what the meaning of ‘fit and proper’ was when it was proposed. We can reach out to Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center.
The framers of the article in the constitution are also still alive. Ralph Ramkarran, Raphael Trotman, Rupert Roopnaraine and many of us who participated in the constitutional reform process saw these words entrenched in the Constitution. We don’t have to guess what was intended.
Finally, the players in selecting every Chairman since Rudy Collins are still around. Many members of the PNC/ PNCR/PNCR1G are still around. Many members of the WPA like Rupert Roopnaraine participated and are still around. The WPA nominees for the list in the past were Doodnauth Singh and Steve Surujbally.
I am still around; TUF nominees to the list in the past included Edward Hopkinson, Maj-Gen (rtd) Joe Singh.
“Fit and proper person” has always referred to any person who was not a judge or qualified to so be.
We have been served well by fit and proper persons who were not judges or qualified to so be.
Rudy Collins, Edward Hopkinson, Maj-Gen (rtd) Joe Singh and Steve Surujbally were four out of the five who have so far been chosen.
Dr Surujbally’s final words should have been: “Thanks to all for the confidence and the honour to serve my country in this most important position in our democratic process.”
Yours faithfully,
Manzoor Nadir
