GECOM to deliberate on request by Chief Whips for meeting

James Patterson
James Patterson

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) James Patterson is to ask the six other members of the commission “to deliberate” on how he should respond to a request for a meeting from the two Chief Whips, Amna Ally and Gail Teixeira on elections readiness.

“Matters like these go to the commissioners for deliberation the outcome of which will move the process forward,” GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward told this newspaper yesterday.

According to Ward, Patterson who has been on medical leave since November 30 is still expected to turn out to work today to allow for a long-delayed statutory meeting.

While the last meeting’s agenda dealt primarily with the then recently held local government elections the passage of the No Confidence motion on December 21 has put GECOM’s readiness to hold General and Regional Elections at the forefront.

The two whips have been mandated by President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to meet with the commission to make a determination on the way forward.

Stabroek News reached out to both Ally and Teixeira for an update on their efforts but only Ally could be reached up to press time.

She indicated that while Patterson has acknowledged receipt of the correspondence requesting a meeting he has given no indication as to a possible meeting date.