Public Service Minister on Chair of Elections and Boundaries Commission

Estevan Perera

Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher chimed in on what he referred to as the insolence of Estevan Perera, who has refused to resign from the appointment as chair of the Elections and Boundaries Commission. In July 2020, just four months before the general elections, the former U.D.P. administration gave Perera the appointment. Last week, the attorney quoted a section of the Constitution as a justification for his five-year appointment and his reason behind not stepping down from the post. Minister Usher says that Perera has failed to recognize conventions within the law that speaks specifically to allowing P.M. Briceño to choose his chairman.

Henry Charles Usher

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Elections & Boundaries

“The appointment is made by the Governor General upon the advice of the Prime Minister; the Constitution does not say upon the advice of the former Prime Minister. We have a Prime Minister and the Prime Minister should advise the Governor General as to who will be the Elections and Boundaries commissioner. But when Mister Perera was appointed, I believe in July or so, he knew that an election was forthcoming, he knew that an election was right around the corner, yet he agreed on a five-year appointment. Yes, the Constitution does allow for a five-year full appointment, but there has been precedent in the past where they don’t take the full five years. He could have easily said, I will take this appointment until the election is held, or until a month after election or whatever it is. He chose to take on a five-year appointment. So while he is relying on the Constitution and what is written in the Constitution, there are also conventions, there are also customs that govern the working of all of these provisions in the Constitution. And those customs and conventions say very clearly that you should give the new prime minister the opportunity to advice the governor general as to who will be selected or who will be appointed in these posts.”

Minister Usher says that Elections and Boundaries Commission has still not been set up due to Perera’s reluctance to resign. Of note is that two commissioners are appointed by the opposition U.D.P., two by the P.U.P. administration and the Chair is appointed by the Governor General upon advice of the Prime Minister.