Revamping the Carter-Price formula for the composing of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was yesterday raised by visiting United States government official Barbara Feinstein with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Feinstein, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, floated the matter during a meeting with Jagdeo at which US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch was present.
Revamping the formula, which had been intended for use only in the 1992 general elections, has been cited as vital by a number of observer groups over the years. The recommendations in the main have called for de-politicising of the body via the appointment of competent members of civil society rather than politicians. Analysts say that Feinstein’s raising of this matter is a sign that Washington is expecting deeper electoral reforms to address a range of matters that have beset elections here. Revamping the formula for selecting the chairperson and members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was not among the electoral amendments circulated last year by the governing PPP/C for public discussion.
