— Luncheon
HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon said yesterday that much uncertainty exists over the task force and its ability to produce results in a time frame to support local government elections this year. He told reporters, at his weekly post Cabinet briefing in Office of the President, New Garden Street, Bourda, Georgetown, that, based on available information, Government is looking for the voting to be held in the third quarter of 2009.

“Third quarter, because it does give us a cushion, in case, as not uncommonly happens in Guyana, we do slip and slide a bit and so we would not slide into 2010. We will have the fourth quarter available as a sort of cushion,” Luncheon explained.

He said the related activities involve a review of legislation provided in the Constitution for local government reform, addressing a new electoral system and fiscal transfers.

Luncheon said both of those are important and Government anticipates enactment prior to conducting the balloting.

The HPS said President Bharrat Jagdeo’s concerns mirror those at Cabinet level and the sentiments raised about the pace of the task force’s work.

Luncheon emphasised that, ultimately, the work of the task force leads inexorably to Parliament for its consideration of what would be ideally approved pieces of legislation.

The HPS pointed out that what the President spoke about in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), to go into Parliament, is not so much an option but the end point.

“It is essential on the way to hosting the elections in 2009,” Luncheon maintained.

With regard to identification (ID) cards, he said that issue was raised by the Administration and many others, about commitment for the funding, exclusively for the purposes of voters identification as opposed to something multi-functional that can be used for national identification, commercial activities and insurance considerations.

According to Luncheon, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), specifically the Chairman, has been provided with the Government’s support, in the context of local government elections in 2009, to proceed with implementing all the necessary steps.

The HPS reported that approval was obtained from donors to move ahead to have the biometric testing completed and, on the basis of its successful completion, to produce new national ID cards.

Luncheon said he has been advised that the IDs will be provided to people in the national register of registrants which would allow for individuals 14 years old and above to receive them.