With key decisions to make, new GECOM Chairman Claudette Singh yesterday met separately with both sides of the commission.
She met with the opposition-nominated commissioners for 90 minutes at GECOM’s headquarters in Kingston and with the government-nominated commissioners for three hours. GECOM has not issued a statement on the meetings.
The opposition commissioners – Bibi Shadick, Robeson Benn and Sase Gunraj – met with the Chairman at 10.30 am.
At 2 pm, it was the turn of the government-appointed Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman.
After exiting the meeting, both Shadick and Benn were hesitant to pronounce on the matters that were discussed and only related that they had a “very cordial and informative meeting.”
“They will continue and we look forward to positive workings and positive engagements with the new Chairman,” Benn said.
Gunraj related that the issues that were discussed were “all matters that are in the public domain and in relation to the conduct of elections that are constitutionally due.”
“The primary purpose of the meeting was for the new Chair-man to familiarise herself with the operations of the Commission and to pull our views on some of the issues… The issue of house to house registration was raised… what should be happening with claims and objections, etcetera, those were all the issues that were discussed,” Gunraj explained, while adding that the pendency of the court proceedings was discussed.
He further noted that he was satisfied and raised the issue of house-to-house registration and dealt with the factors that militate against the conduct of house-to-house registration, and by extension the holding of elections within the required period.
“I believe it is my duty to convince her of my view on it and I have presented that view as best as I think I could as part of a team that met with her this morning,” he said, while emphasising that the meeting was cordial.
Gunraj also pointed out that Singh appeared very receptive and respectful to the views that they presented to her and “I believe that is in keeping with her long judicial service” and as a consequence, they are looking forward to meaningful deliberations with all sides present.
The government-appointed commissioners also emphasised that the meeting was cordial.
“What we will indicate to you is that we have met with the Chairman and we had a discussion where we responded to questions that she asked and we expressed our views to her and any further comment on these discussions could only be made by the Chairman herself,” Corbin noted.
When pressed for more details on what was discussed, Alexander said that everything possible was raised.
He was also asked if they still support house-to-house registration and if his mind is likely to change, to which he said, “My view is that there should be sanitisation of the list. Sanitisation of the National Register of Registrants for the provision of a list that can provide credible elections. That is not likely to change.”
Corbin also stressed that the most efficient method – house-to-house registration – was determined unanimously by the Commission years ago and emphasised that the Commission has been requesting funds to execute the registration since 2016.
When pressed further on whether they are willing to hold onto house-to-house registration in light of the view that claims and objections could also sanitise the list, Corbin said that the issue of sanitisation of the list is not the matter in question, and whenever the issues reach the table, the Commissioners will look at all the factors at that point in time and determine the best way forward.
