Promising to execute his duties in a neutral, professional and law-abiding manner, newly-appointed Chief Election Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud yesterday morning took the oath of office.
Just after 11am, Persaud was sworn in as CEO by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennon at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, and later sworn in as Commissioner of Registration before Chief Justice (Ag) Roxane George.
“Nobody should have any worry about my neutrality or me deviating from the path that is lawful and proper… Most people in the public at large would have known me for carrying out my duties in a professional matter. I guarantee that I will continue in that same [way],” Persaud yesterday assured when he spoke with the media.
After more than three hours of deliberation on Friday, the commission by a majority selected Persaud to be the top electoral officer at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). His appointment brought an end to the more than three-month-long hiring process to fill the post.
Opposition-nominated Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Desmond Trotman and Charles Corbin – following the appointment of Persaud remained adamant that he was unqualified for the post of CEO. They were notably absent from yesterday swearing-in ceremonies.
Persaud, who spent 17 years working at GECOM as its Public Relations Officer and Deputy CEO, yesterday said his work begins immediately and it is his intention to familiarise himself with what is happening in the various departments and assess what needs to be undertaken.
He added that on matters such as a fresh voters list, house-to-house registration, and preparations for upcoming polls, he will have to be guided by the seven-member commission.
In response to questions on whether the elections secretariat will be able to prepare for Local Government Elections next year, given his knowledge of what is required, Persaud said, “One year is more than enough to prepare and host local government elections.”
Elections in Local Authority areas were constitutionally due this year but due to GECOM’s unpreparedness as a result of the absence of key officers in place, the elections were postponed.
The absence of the CEO, who is also the Commissioner of Registration, also stalled the issuance of new and replacement identification cards.
The newly appointed CEO says that he plans to utilise his background as a public relations professional to improve GECOM’s image, which has been tarnished by the events post the March 2nd 2020 General and Regional Elections which saw the final result declared only on August 2nd 2020 following a painstaking recount and allegations that senior electoral officials were attempting to rig the results in favour of the former APNU+AFC government.
“There would be some people out there who will say the image is not damaged and some who will disagree. The perception is out there and it is something I will have to address as times goes on and strategies will be unfolded,” Persaud stated, adding that he already has in mind, ideas of how he will go about developing the image of the elections body.
Further, he asserted, “I am one who stands for transparency and accountability and envelops engagement with the media… It is something that I will always push for, so that all concerned are always abreast with what the Commission is doing.”
Baggage
Persaud said that his return to the elections secretariat does not come with any vendetta or baggage from the past. He said that in taking up the position, he looks forward to executing his duties in the interest of all concerned parties.
In 2018, despite scoring the highest for the position as Deputy CEO and having served in the position three years prior, he was overlooked and the post was handed to Roxanne Myers, who is currently before the court on electoral charges.
“I have not taken this appointment bringing any of those stuff with me. I hold no grudge, I hold no malice and I welcome the opportunity to return to GECOM and carry out duties in the best interest of all concerned,” he emphasised.
The new CEO added that although he was away from the secretariat, he kept abreast with developments and educated himself on electoral matters locally and internationally.
Persaud’s appointment and confirmation to the post was made possible after GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, cast the deciding vote in his favour during the selection process at an extraordinary meeting of the Commission last Friday.
The government- and opposition-nominated commissioners were split on the candidacy of Persaud and Jamaican Leslie Harrow, who was also a contender for the post.
Harrow is the former head of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and a current Zonal Manager with the Electoral Office of Jamaica.
In a statement on the decision, GECOM said Justice Singh, in justifying the selection, stated that having heard the Commissioners and having read the endorsement of Persaud by the former GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally, she was of the view that Persaud had acquired institutional knowledge, having been employed with GECOM for seventeen years.
“Justice Singh posited that Mr. Persaud is knowledgeable not only with the understanding and management of the work of the CEO’s office and the operational functions of the Secretariat but also with the geography of Guyana’s ten (10) Administrative Regions.
“Owing to the reasons highlighted, Justice Singh noted that she has no hesitation in endorsing Mr. Persaud’s appointment since he has the necessary skills, experience, and expertise that makes him eminently qualified to handle the job,” the statement added.
Persaud is replacing Keith Lowenfield, whose contract was terminated by the Commission. (Lowenfield is currently facing charges of committing forgery and misconduct during the process to tally votes from the 2020 general and regional elections.)
In his endorsement of Persaud, Surujbally said, “He possesses that combination of intelligence, modesty, reliability, and, yes, ambition – always aspiring to improve himself and the organisation with which he is associated. I have alluded above to his organizational efficiency and indefatigability. But Mr Persaud is quite aware that he and his organization (in this case GECOM) cannot implement the best-laid plans if the activities are not conducted by all members of the team working together.”
In the prelude to his endorsement, Surujbally proffered his opinion on Persaud’s years at the Commission, describing in detail, how he would have enhanced the work of GECOM. He presented Persaud as someone who is intimately au fait with the practices and functioning of the Commission having been involved in the various aspects of its work. It was Surujbally who invited Persaud, back in November 2001, to apply for the position of PRO. Persaud was then the Personal Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture.
Persaud is the holder of a Masters of Business Administration from Anglia Ruskin University in London, a Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership (Electoral Processes) from Chartered Management Institute in London, and a Diploma in Public Relations from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
