Filling the GECOM’s CEO vacancy was needed, not who was hired for the position

Reference is made to Vincent Alexander’s “GECOM’S CEO selection process raises many questions on adherence to procedures” (Dec 16), the critical remarks made about my commentary on Vishnu Persaud (Dec 12) and the Chair of GECOM for her vote hiring Persaud as CEO of the body. I played no role in the selection process. I did not “rout for or tout for Persaud”. My comment was post-selection, not pre-selection. I merely cheered the appointment pointing out he is amply qualified for the position given his experience and academic qualification. GECOM determined that he was more qualified and better suited for the job than Alexander’s and the PNC’s choice. I praised his appointment given that GECOM has been without a CEO for several months with its work stymied during that period. Filling the vacancy was critically needed and it does not matter to me who was hired for the position. The work (registration

of new voters, giving out IDs, updating of electoral list, preparing for local elections, etc.) of GECOM needs to go on. It is strange that Mr. Alexander now speaks of GECOM‘s decisions on appointments. He did not query the appointment (in 2014) of Keith Lowenfield by the then Chair, or the Mingo bogus results of the country’s 2020 polls. Did Lowenfield meet his criteria for CEO? When Lowenfield was CEO, the PNC Commissioners did not question or challenge the functioning of GECOM and the decisions of then Chair James Patterson, who was illegally and unconstitutionally appointed to that position. And Mr. Alexander knew of this aberration.

Mr. Alexander queried Persaud’s academic qualification. He contends that Persaud is less qualified and even lacks the criteria (requisite academics and experience, etc.) for the position. I should note that on the issue of qualification and experience, the high court awarded some $4.5M in damages to Persaud against

Alexander and others (in Chronicle newspaper) who questioned and denigrate his qualification when he sought the DCEO position. Also, the Ethnic Relations Commission addressed the discriminatory way by which Alexander and his colleagues bypassed Persaud for one of their party’s supporters. Persaud scored the highest on the selection criteria for DCEO. The selection criteria for CEO did not make mention of grades; it is not mentioned that a person with higher grades (higher degree) would be more qualified and would have preference over someone with a degree of lower grade. On the role of the Chair, she is entitled to cast a vote. She has that power. It is the decision of the Commission. One can criticize the Commission but not the Chair. Vishnu Persaud stated categorically that he would be neutral. Vincent Alexander’s challenge should therefore be to hold him to that standard, rather than ridiculing him, and maligning the integrity of the Chair.