“I believe in sitting down and hammering things out… not walking out” -New GECOM Chair

In an interview just after taking the oath to serve without fear or favour, the retired Court of Appeal Judge said she intends to host separate meetings with the government nominated Commissioners and the Opposition nominated Commissioners before bringing them all together for their first meeting under her Chairmanship.

“I believe in sitting down and hammering things out… not walking out”  -New GECOM Chair

New Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission Justice Claudette Singh has indicated that she intends to be inclusive as she takes on the top Elections Commission job.

Justice Singh took the oath of office this morning before President David Granger and a packed room of Government and Opposition members and other officials.

In an interview just after taking the oath to serve without fear or favour, the retired Court of Appeal Judge said she intends to host separate meetings with the government nominated Commissioners and the Opposition nominated Commissioners before bringing them all together for their first meeting under her Chairmanship.

She said she believes in inclusivity.

“I will speak to everybody and I do not believe in people walking out when there is disagreement. I believe in sitting down hammering out whatever the problem is, not the media will try our problems”, Justice Singh said.

She added that the Commission will have to determine and address its own issues.

Justice Singh said she is endeavouring to have “free, fair and transparent elections”.

According to Justice Singh, it makes no difference that she is the first woman to hold the job as Chairman of the Elections Commission since “I have held many positions before”.

She recalled that when she served as a Judge she was called “the Iron Lady”, and there will be no difference now.

Questioned about why she had a change of mind in having her name among the nominees when she had earlier turned down a request by the Opposition Leader two years ago, Justice Singh said both the President and the Leader of the Opposition have reposed confidence in her to accept the job “for the sake of the country”. She said nothing else influenced her acceptance of the job.

The new GECOM Chair is expected to get down to work as early as today. She held a brief discussion with the Chief Elections Officer after her swearing-in and will likely meet in a more formal setting with him within the next two days.

President David Granger has labelled today’s swearing in of Justice Claudette Singh to head GECOM as a “good day for Guyana”. The Leader of the Opposition has already said he is very happy with the appointment.

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