By Jomo Paul

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj standing besides former President Donald Ramotar; GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally and CEO of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield

[www.inewsguyana.com] –

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is currently weighing the option of recalling its Commissioners that were appointed to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to represent the interests of the Party.

“The Party is considering ways of improving its future representation at GECOM….Central Committee also recognized the need to strengthen the Party both organizationally and ideologically and also to introduce some changes at the Party, Parliamentary and GECOM levels,” a statement from the PPP noted on Tuesday.

When contacted on Wednesday, May 20 for clarification, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee confirmed that this was the case but no decision has been made.

According to Rohee, “That is a matter that we haven’t made any decision as yet…we are considering that but no decision has been made to that effect as yet.”

GECOM Commissionr, Athmaram Mangal (left), former President Ramotar and Dr. Surujbally. [iNews’ Photo]

An interesting twist to the situation however is the fact that PPP/C has no legal ability to recall the Commissioners it nominated to serve on the elections Commission.

This was confirmed by GECOM’s chairman Dr Steve Surujbally.

According to the GECOM Chairman, if the leader of the Party requests that a Commissioner relinquish his post then he or she may acquiesce.

“If the Leader of a Party requests of a Commissioner that he nominated that the Commissioner step down, the answer I think would be yes automatically for the person,” said Dr Surujbally.

He however was quick to note that precedent was set whereby a Commissioner was asked to step down and he refused and is still a part of the Elections Commission.

Meanwhile, Surujbally suggested that the PPP “do some more introspection as to why it lost the elections.”

Responding to the indication from the Party that it will be launching countrywide protests in front of GECOM offices, Dr Surujbally said “I cannot stop them.”