Joe Singh resigns as Presidential Adviser

By Fareeza Haniff

Major General (Retired), Joseph Singh on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, officially tendered his resignation as Presidential Adviser to President David Granger.

News Room has confirmed that the former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) informed the Ministry of the Presidency in his resignation letter that he does not wish to renew his contract with the government, which expires at the end of this year.

News Room was also reliably informed that the Major General, who is also a former Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has resigned from the various State Boards on which he serves, including the Protected Areas Commission.

When News Room caught up with the Presidential Adviser today in Georgetown, he did not deny that he resigned. Instead, he said: I don’t wish to make any comment at this time, I believe the Ministry of the Presidency in time, will make whatever statements it wishes to make, please respect my privacy.”

The Major General was listed as a nominee for the post of GECOM Chair on the third list which was submitted by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo to President Granger in August.

Granger, however, rejected the lists on the grounds that the nominees were not “fit and proper.”

Meanwhile, the reason for Singh’s resignation is unknown at this time. Efforts to contact Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and Head of the Press and Publicity Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mark Archer proved futile.