GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Former Government minister, Clement Rohee has been named a Government-appointed commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), replacing attorney Bibi Shadick who passed away last Saturday.

Rohee, who is in his 70s, is also a former general secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and has held several ministerial posts during his long-standing career.

Since leaving electoral politics Rohee has been at the helm of the Guyana Peace Council, a decades-old PPP-aligned organisation. He will join attorneys Sase Gunraj and Manoj Narayanas, government appointed members of GECOM.

Shadick, 76, died of pulmonary fibrosis last Saturday and was buried the following day.

GECOM, in paying tribute to her, noted that she participated in three commission meetings in the days running up to her death.

The Guyana Constitution allows for the appointment of six members of the commission, with three being appointed by the president, acting in his own deliberate judgement.

The other three are appointed by the president, acting on the advice of the leader of the Opposition, after he has meaningfully consulted the non-governmental opposition parties represented in the National Assembly.

The chairman shall be a person who holds, has held, or is qualified to hold the office of judge of the High Court, or the Court of Appeal, or any other fit and proper person who is appointed from a list of six persons who are not unacceptable to the president.