By Kiana Wilburg
A constitutional crisis is being engineered by those who do not want to accept the role of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in rendering advice on when elections is to be held. The mastermind of this crisis is none other than Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.
This assertion was made by GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander during an interview with this newspaper.
Alexander said that the GECOM Commissioners representing the Opposition’s interest, namely Bibi Shadick, Robeson Benn and Sase Gunraj, can also be seen as mere instruments in Jagdeo’s plan. Alexander said his opinion in this regard, is premised on the very behaviour of the said Commissioners.
Alexander said, “…On one hand, it is double standard for Jagdeo to accuse us, Government nominated Commissioners of taking instructions from Congress Place , when in fact it is glaringly known that his commissioners are tied. The PPP Commissioners have press conferences at Jagdeo’s facilities and have not, in any way, distanced themselves.”
The GECOM Commissioner continued, “Jagdeo makes a statement before the Commission meets and they (Shadick, Benn and Gunraj) come and they parrot everything that he says. He talks about letters to the GECOM Chairman being fraudulent and they come and say the same thing…”
He added, “…Let me say this, we are not known to vacillate. Bibi very early in this process was the one who had said we can’t make 90 days. And she sought to have it captured in the minutes of GECOM. And then (she) comes back and takes a different position…Why do they vacillate? (It is) because when they go and they get directions, they have to come and fall in line. And there is evidence of this…”
Alexander also pointed to the walkouts of the PPP Commissioners. He said that the first time it was done, one can see it as a walkout, but the second time, it was more on a technical issue. He said that the PPP Commissioners wanted to discuss the schedule for elections the second time around, and since that was not being discussed, Shadick and Benn asked to be excused. As a result of this behaviour, Alexander explained that there is no longer a quorum.
