An independent body for GECOM appointments would have been ideal

Dear Editor,

Confirmation comes daily of the way things are, and going to be. It all boils down to who has the numerical advantage, what I call the ‘plus one’ factor. The Opposition and the nation had better get used to it, for the pattern is now set in stone, and I don’t perceive any deviation happening, other than for issues that don’t matter, and for which political benevolence and charity can be extended.

I would have thought that the GECOM appointments to be processed and finalized serve as the best proving ground.  None should raise objection to the presence of an independent body for purposes of shortlisting suitable candidates, and what follows from that exercise.  Because such a panel would have been deemed beforehand to be ‘independent’ then the sure-to-follow disputes over who should and should have been part of the final mix would be eased.  Since this is Guyana, and the issue has something to do with elections, then the best we can hope for is some limited easing and not overall eliminating of the usual controversies that surround such positions, and the people filling them.  Something of this mature, with its potential to defuse the tensions and rancor (and bad faith) ought to have had unanimous reception among the commissioners at GECOM. Personally, I would have liked to see such an independent group, but it is now not to be. I think I hear claims of fraud and trouble from this early hour. Oh, and this is only for the appointments, not the road ahead, meaning, elections process and the rest.

Then, there was the little storm in a teaspoon about Public Accounts Committee meetings and their weekly frequency.  After the background machinations involving stressed out clerks, the majority took over and took care of business.  Once weekly it will be, with case closed.  As an aside, I look at this committee, and wonder what its relevance, to what purpose is?  It meets.  It reviews.  It listens.  It speaks and writes.  And we are still in the same place: no documents, none jailed, none fined, and none penalized. In essence: no nothing, other than a momentary public hauling over the coals. I would take that every year, once that is all, and I am then free to carry on with business, as usual.  There should be no difficulty determining the kind meant.  Incidentally, if clerks can be influenced to be stressed out (I don’t think the Hon. Minister of Health would not have so diagnosed), then what about friendly state and private sector auditors and cooperating cops made to see the patriotic value of their bonding and cooperating with the point of view of PPP leaders, all principled people, naturally?

As I highlight these local developments, I marvel that we still speak of a nation and a people with a singular destiny. For sure, democratic processes and norms operate on the simplicity and beauty of the majority underpinning.  Yeah, but how do we ever grow, get anywhere?

Sincerely,

GHK Lall