Moments after taking the oath as the newest member of GECOM, former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said that there is a need for the Commission’s staff to “reflect what Guyana looks like.”
Rohee made the statement after being asked about what are some of the priority issues that he hopes to raise with the Guyana Elections Com-mission (GECOM).
“See, we know when you go into a polling station or when you go to do registration certain perceptions which I would not wish to detail at this point in time, tend to emerge. So we need to have staff that reflects what Guyana looks like and this is going to be extremely important. It’s also going to be important for the staff to be professional in the conduct of the activities and in their attitude towards people as well,” Rohee told reporters.
When asked, directly, whether he was referring to the ethnic makeup of the Secretariat’s staff, Rohee danced around the question. Instead, he said “I’m speaking about fundamentally, the professional face of GECOM. It doesn’t necessarily mean the ethnic composition. You can have a multi-ethnic composition of GECOM but the fact is that they all have to present a professional face to the public. Not only in terms of image but also in terms of what they do in terms of the concrete activities in the public domain.”
While he was General Secretary of the PPP/C, Rohee had raised the issue of the ethnic makeup of GECOM staffers calling for an investigation. In 2016, he had claimed that the majority of elections day staff was made up of one ethnic group, although he would not identify which one.
“Clearly, staffers at GECOM are not hired on the basis of merit. Moreover, it appears from the composition of the staff that 95% of persons of one race are the ones who would usually pass the tests set by GECOM,” Rohee had charged.
Yesterday, President Irfaan Ali administered the oath of office to Rohee at the Office of the President. Rohee, a longtime member of the PPP/C, had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Home Affairs. He was also a member of the Elections Commission before his ascension as a Minister.
He replaces the late Bibi Shadick as one of the government’s three nominees on the Commission. Shadick died at her East Street, Georgetown home on Saturday and was laid to rest on Sunday.
GECOM is chaired by retired Justice Claudette Singh and Rohee’s appointment means she is the only woman on the Commission. The other members are Sase Gunraj, Manoj Narayan, Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman.
Speaking to reporters after taking the oath, Rohee said that he considers his appointment to be an “extremely important one.”
Bedrock
He added “[my appointment] is a bedrock matter for the government of the day and for the country in the sense that the question of election and the conduct of elections and the foundation principles on which elections are held in a democracy are extremely important and this is where I come in.”
Rohee said that in addition to having the staffers reflect what Guyana looks like, he also envisions a more professional GECOM. He explained that professionalism in GECOM, as it is in any institution that has to do with good governance and democracy, is extremely important.
“…the face of GECOM is not so much the Commissioners, it’s more the staff because on the ground is the staff that represents GECOM. It is the GECOM officials, so to speak that is the public face so to speak of how people perceive elections in Guyana and that’s where I hope to make a contribution [to the change],” he said.
Meanwhile, President Ali said that Rohee is no stranger to public life and the pursuit of free and fair elections and democracy.
“I’m sure that with this experience, not only at the national level but his previous experience at the Elections Commission would bring great value to the work of the Commis-sion. It will help to strengthen the Commission and definitely will benefit our country as a whole,” Ali said.
The President expressed his gratitude to the family of the 72-year-old for the sacrifices they have made by allowing him to serve. Ali added that his government believes in democracy and will spare no effort in supporting the advancement of every opportunity to strengthen Guyana’s democracy while improving adherence to the rule of law.
“Elections are very important in the life of any country. Elections are important for the evolution and development of countries. The will of the people is the most fundamental right that must be respected. An Elections Commission is tasked with the serious responsibility of ensuring that everything they do secure and protect the will of the people, advance democracy and to keep our country within the realm of democratic nations.
“So I want to say the chairwoman of GECOM, members of the Commission and all those who work day in and day out, that you toil daily for a larger life, that the work you do is integral to our country, integral to the development of our country, integral to the stability of our country and you have my full support in ensuring that you continue to make decisions that are in the best interests of our country and the people and in advancing, securing and promoting democracy,” the President related.
GECOM Chair Claudette Singh welcomed Rohee adding that he brings a wealth of experience and institutional knowledge.
