By Ariana Gordon

THE international diplomatic community has called on the local populace to desist from blaming the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the nation’s lack of education about local governance and Local Government Elections (LGEs).At a joint press conference with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Friday, British High Commissioner Gregg Quinn told reporters that while GECOM has a responsibility to make the public aware of the electoral processes, the responsibility should not be placed solely on the commission.
“GECOM is an easy target and to be frank, they have been an easy target since May of last year and there is an obligation on every one to actually not be reliant to be told what to do, but to actually find out what they need to do. This is a two-way process that everybody has to be engaged in,” said the British High Commissioner.
Quinn noted that it is neither “instructive nor helpful for anybody to spend too much time criticising GECOM.”
Like the British envoy, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy here, Bryan Hunt, stressed the importance of a collective approach. He said it is easy to place the responsibility solely on GECOM, but stressed that it is a shared responsibility.
“GECOM does not bear the sole responsibility for educating voters. That is a shared responsibility between GECOM, local authorities, political parties, between candidates that are running, civil society and organisations and the media.”
Hunte said to point fingers and say it is GECOM’s responsibility “misses the point.” “All of us have a responsibility to make sure voters are educated and know where they need to go to vote,” he added.
Like his colleagues, Charge de Affairs for the Canadian High Commission, Daniel Joly, believes that a national effort is needed to ensure all are aware of the importance of LGE.
Similarly, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Major-General Retired Norman Mc Lean commended GECOM for doing a good job at educating the masses, but noted that “better could have been done.”
He said the Elections Commission has been working to ensure that persons are aware of the electoral process, but the job is not for GECOM alone.
“This is not a responsibility solely for GECOM, everyone has a responsibility; we are part and parcel of Guyana and it is our responsibility whether you are a candidate, an elector, you are a Guyanese and this is your responsibility. You have to help the process,” the PSC Chairman added.

VERY SATISFIED
Like Mc Lean, Captain Gerry Gouveia said the PSC has worked closely with GECOM over the past few months and based on observation is very satisfied.
“But whether people are reading or listening is another challenge but more particularly, I think that the political parties and the independent candidates need to do a lot more… take on a lot more of the responsibility in sensitising, inspiring and motivating their own supporters to go to the polls.”
Gouveia said while LGEs the world over do not attract massive crowds as is the case of General and National Elections, these elections being held in Guyana after more than two decades are very important.
“These elections are very important for Guyana that we can’t over-emphasise the fact that people need to be encouraged to vote and then to insist that the candidates and political parties join GECOM in that whole effort in sensitising and getting people out there and educating the voters and so on.”
Gouveia said, “From where I sit I am actually quite satisfied, they have been doing a lot of work in the public information arena.”
Adding to the conversation was Kit Nascimento who believes that LGEs here are “a brand new experience.” He said the majority of the electorate have not voted in LGE before, and as such, “it is a learning experience for those conducting the elections and for those contesting the elections and for those who are voting in these elections.”
Nascimento said the PSC looks to GECOM first, but there are valuable stakeholders in the process who must play their part, making reference to the political parties and independent candidates and groups.
“They are partners in this election and they too have a greater responsibility to GECOM to get the message across. The message is go out and vote; find out where you have to vote and how are you voting,” the PSC member said.
When asked what can be done to boost the enthusiasm of the electorate for the March 18 elections, Quinn said the people of Guyana have been denied their right to elect local representatives for more than 20 years and that ought to be enough of a reason to vote.
“For 20 years there have been people sitting on councils who have not necessarily represented the will of the people in their areas. This is an opportunity that will let the people address their problems and concerns locally and will now work for the local communities, because they are part and parcel of those communities. If people care about local issues and want them to be addressed, then they need to get out and vote for the candidates.”
Mc Lean said the commission is of the view that persons are unaccustomed to voting for representatives at the local level that they may place a low premium on the value of their votes.
“The danger exists that these persons may stay away from the polls on March 18. The Private Sector Commission would like, therefore, to join in the call for full participation of all Guyanese in the electoral process and to urge every citizen to go out and cast your vote.”
The PSC and the heads of the diplomatic missions here have indicated that there will be observers present across the country for the March 18 elections. The number of observers representing each agency was not readily available at the time of the press conference.
The PSC announced that it will be establishing a coordinating centre during the elections.