The Two Most Senior Officials at the Electoral Office have been removed

With general elections due in Grenada within the next twelve months, the island is set to lose its two most senior and experienced officials within the Electoral Office.

According to well-placed sources, Supervisor of Elections, Victor Ashby and Assistant Supervisor of Elections, Emmanuel Roberts would be sent packing from their jobs by Governor-General, Sir Daniel Williams.

Roberts confirmed to GRENADA TODAY on Tuesday that he had been notified about this development by Ashby who met with Sir Daniel to discuss electoral matters. According to Roberts, he had not received any official letter terminating his employment with the Electoral Office but was told by Ashby that his services would no longer be required with effect from August 31.

The Number Two Man at the Electoral Office is currently on 14 working days holiday and is due to return to work on Thursday. Roberts said he did not receive any letter of dismissal from the Governor General and intends to  show up for work on Thursday as usual.

A retiree from the public service, Roberts was appointed to his post on January 15, 2002 by the Governor-General. The electoral official said he was not taken by surprise at the move to oust him from the office.

Roberts admitted to this newspaper that his brother, Kennedy Roberts, an activist with the ruling New National Party (NNP) government had informed him about his possible removal. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell had reportedly told a party meeting at which Kennedy Roberts was present that he planned to remove his elder brother from his post as part of a clean-up of the Electoral Office.

Within recent months, a number of persons considered to be allies of the NNP have been placed in key sensitive senior positions within the Electoral Office. Dr. Mitchell who holds a slender 8-7 majority in parliament is seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive five-year term in office.

The Supervisor of Elections could not be reached Tuesday for comment on the issue. 61-Year old Ashby was said to be engaged in a meeting with staff members of the Grenada Boys Secondary School (GBSS) where he is the Principal.

The Supervisor of Elections has reportedly reached the mandatory age of 60 at which civil servants have to retire from public service. Speculation is rife that Wilfred Charles, the other Assistant Supervisor of Elections, a newcomer to the Electoral Office, as well as Barbara Charles or a group of Jamaicans would take over the running of the Electoral Office.

Some political observers in Grenada are predicting fresh elections on the island as early as October to November this year.