Steve Surujbally should resign as GECOM’s boss
May 17, 2015 | By KNews | Filed Under Letters, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/05/17/steve-surujbally-should-resign-as-gecoms-boss/
Dear Editor,
I begin this opinion piece here with a deeply felt assertion -. Steve Surujbally almost destroyed this country. Between, Thursday, May 14- and Saturday, May 16, Dr. Surujbally, the veterinary doctor from communist East Germany almost singlehandedly destroyed Guyana. And during this period, he was the embodiment of nonchalance.
Here is why the delays of the election results occurred according to Surujbally. Here is one of the words he used, “obfuscations.” He contends that obfuscations, obstacles and other irritants (my word) led to the delays and the laws allowed for these things. I contend otherwise. This is Surujbally’s explanation.
What Surujbally has never been asked by the press or explained himself is if he had the legal power to dismiss these obfuscations. The PPP assault on GECOM in the 2015 election results was based on frivolities.
From Tuesday morning up to the time Charles Ramson Jr. on Saturday afternoon failed to stop the declaration of the winner, the frivolities heaped on GECOPM by the PPP could have been dismissed by a majority vote and the law allowed for the GECOM Commissioners to do just that.
The PPP asininities began to pour down as early as Tuesday morning at around 2.30 AM when the PPP realized from their incoming documents from their polling agents that they lost the election, thus Jagdeo’s press conference at 3.AM
Frivolity 1 – Jagdeo said there was multiple-voting
Frivolity 2 – Manickchand refered to violence against PPP polling agents but couldn’t provide names and locations.
Frivolity 3 – Ramotar said he was way ahead by 30, 000
Frivolity 4 – Certain boxes in three Regions were recounted. Nothing irregular found.
Frivolity 5 – Recounts were ordered in certain boxes in all ten Regions
Frivolity 6 – False statements of polls were found. But they were discovered not by a PPP official but GECOM’s CEO himself which pointed to his professionalism. The fake documents were not included in the count and did not result in any loss of votes either way
Frivolity 7 – The PPP said some of its statements of poll had different results from GECOM’s. A bi-partisan team found this was not true
Frivolity 8 – The PPP wanted a re-examination of a number of boxes in Region 4
Frivolity 9 – The PPP wanted a total recount
Frivolity 10 – The PPP pointed to dishonesty of the intl. observers
The question is did the law allow for many of these frivolities to be entertained by GECOM. Surujbally said yes. The true answer is no. The five-day delay was because Surujbally accepted and processed the obfuscations of the PPP. He masked this by pointing to the law.
In my Thursday column on Surujbally, I wrote the following; “One of the trends in the style of Surujbally that I have noticed over the past ten years is the proclivity to say; “I want to do it right so there can be no criticism and challenges.” I have Googled Surujbally and have pulled up several statements to that effect. But what business is that of his over whether someone will challenge what GECOM does? Surujbally should not perform his tasks at GECOM and be concerned with what others think of him and what court challenges will greet him. I would like to think he has to do what is legal, proper and correct within the confines of the law and not worry what others are likely to say and do.” (end of quote)
That quote captures the essence of the style of Surujbally in running national elections and why there have been inordinate delays in announcing results under his watch the past fifteen years. If the laws are changed he will continue to operate with the same style because he is obsessed with his image. He wants to tell the world that John Jones claimed he won a million votes, (even though number of voters were 50, 000) and I, Surujbally was fair and professional because I looked into his claim. He will not dismiss John Jones’ mischief because he, Surujbally always wants to look good. I believe there may be elements of narcissism in Surujbally’s ontology. In other words, the elections is about Surujbally, not the country, not the laws
I can pull several columns and letters to the editor of mine in which my portrait of Surujbally has been a negative one. I stand by those columns. This country should not let Surujbally preside over another national election.
Frederick Kissoon