Former Canadian elections chief to give technical help to GECOM Chair
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has accepted assistance from the Canadian Government in the form of their former Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Jean-Pierre Kingsley, who will provide GECOM Chair Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh with advice on best practices on operational matters.
According to opposition-nominated commissioner Bibi Shadick, Kingsley’s current exploratory visit will end today following a week of meetings with the Commission, Secretariat and other interested groups, including political parties.
“He was here to observe and to see what advice or help he could give so he wanted to hear from persons,” she told Stabroek News in an invited comment, before adding that while he is scheduled to leave today, he is expected to return before the holding of general and regional elections.
This newspaper understands that Kingsley was scheduled to meet with the government and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday but up to press time these meetings could not be confirmed.
Sources have also indicated that Kingsley would remain available for consultation via phone and email in between his visits, which are scheduled for the period October to March.
The question of technical assistance to GECOM has been a burning issue as there have been growing concerns over the last year about the process leading up to general elections, which are now scheduled for March 2nd next year. Other offers of assistance have been made to GECOM by the United Nations and the Commonwealth. Information Technology help has been seen as a key need.
Kingsley has provided electoral advice to Haiti, Iraq, Trinidad and Tobago, and St Lucia and has been consulted by many other countries.
According to the Canada Elections Website, Kingsley who held the post of CEO for 17 years, adopted a proactive role for his Office, recommending and promoting key initiatives to make the electoral process more accessible.
Specifically he is credited with “ushering in reforms needed to comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms” and leading “Elections Canada into the age of computerized election administration.
“Jean-Pierre Kingsley…presided over a period of unprecedented technological change, including the development of the Elections Canada Web site as a comprehensive tool for public information,” the website explains, while adding that during his tenure, Elections Canada participated in many significant international development missions aimed at promoting democratic electoral processes through co-operation, capacity building and mutually beneficial relationships.
Other achievements include the introduction of the 36-day election calendar, digitized electoral geography systems and products, and the establishment of the National Register of Electors.