`...our staff members and their spouses cannot be submitted to this sort of trauma. That is not fair, it is not right'
- Dr. Steve Surujbally

CHAIRMAN of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally yesterday denounced claims by a TV `talk-show host' that he had embarked on ethnic cleansing at the commission and had fired senior Afro-Guyanese officials.

He said the charges by Mr. Roger Moore, who hosts a programme on the Channel Nine television station, were "blatant lies" and had traumatised the officers and their families.

Surujbally told a news conference Moore claimed the men had been dismissed in a form of ethnic cleansing at its worst and that people should demonstrate and protest these actions.

He quoted Moore as saying, "They are moving towards putting in their own kind of people" at the commission.

"...these things came out as facts, when in fact they are blatant lies", Surujbally declared.

"...I am very enthused by the staff that I have. No one is being fired", the new GECOM Chairman said.

He told reporters at the commission's office in Georgetown that the claims made were inimical to the interest of GECOM and referred to excerpts of a tape made by the Media Monitoring Unit from Moore's programme.

Surujbally said Moore made the claims on the Tuesday edition of his 'At Home with Roger' programme.

He disseminated information that several officials of the commission had been sacked because of their ethnic background, Surujbally said.

"...my staff at this commission has been traumatised", he stated.

He said persons had also been calling the commission to find out what was going on.

A meeting was on at GECOM when the programme was being broadcast and a spouse of one of the persons allegedly fired called and asked him if he was still working there, the chairman said.

"...I have to protect my staff...our staff members and their spouses cannot be submitted to this sort of trauma. That is not fair, it is not right", Surujbally stressed.

He reported that a meeting has since been held to assure them no such actions were under way at the commission.

"It is bad enough that you try to damage the chairman of the commission but you damage the commission itself and the secretariat and we cannot allow this to happen..."

Surujbally said Moore never used the word 'alleged' and accused the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of putting pressure on him (Surujbally) to carry out these acts.

"...No one places pressure on me. No one dares place pressure on me in any form or any way. It will not happen. It cannot happen", he emphasised.

Surujbally, who assumed the post in September, has since met President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Mr. Desmond Hoyte to express his opinion on the matter.

He said he has also spoken to the Manager of Channel Nine who was apologetic and reasonable.

Surujbally said Moore claimed that since he had become GECOM Chairman, Afro-Guyanese officials have been pressured to leave.

The officials included Mr. Alwyn Edwards, Personal Advisor to the Chairman, Mr. Calvin Benn, Chief Elections Officer (ag), Mr. Keith Lowenfield, Logistics Officer, and Mr. Roy McArthur, Human Resources Officer. All of them were at yesterday's news briefing.

Surujbally said they have all made sterling contributions to the commission over the years and Benn has in fact been promoted to acting Chief Elections Officer.

He, however, pointed out that if persons were found committing acts not in keeping with the regulations of GECOM, they might be dismissed. (ABIGAIL KIPPINS)