Rohee exhumes accusations of ethnic hiring against GECOM; wants Diplomats to take note

Posted by: Jomo Paul in News February 8, 2016 0 Comments

The General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee has dredged up an aged old accusation of ethnic marginalization at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and wants the local diplomatic corps to take note of such underpinnings.

Roheee at a press conference on Monday stated that the 95% of the staff hired by the Commission for Elections Day activities are of one ethnic group.

The General Secretary said that he found it strange that the exams given to persons who apply for posts at GECOM are only passed by persons of one ethnic line.

“We cannot understand how when GECOM sets exams only one set of people are failing and another will pass,” he stated.

He was then asked to identify exactly which ethnic group he believes is in the majority at GECOM to which he responded “those who have eyes to see; let them see.”

He said that the issue of ‘ethnic hiring’ has always been one for the PPP but it is not and was never in a position to force its views on GECOM lest it be accused of undemocratic practices.

“We could not dictate to GECOM who they should employ and who they shouldn’t,” said the PPP Leader.

He said too that a PPP Commissioner noticed similar trends at the recent Nomination Day exercise for Local Government Elections and would have reported same to the Party.

Rohee underscored the importance of the diplomatic community in the electoral process stating that they must conduct themselves in accordance with United Nations Charters.

He said that the diplomats should take note that “all is not well at Gecom since there has been no improvements whatever in the policy, administration nor operational levels at GECOM.”

When contacted for a comment the Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Vishnu Persaud only stated “we employ people. We don’t employ people by race.”