PPP commissioners claim approval was given for GECOM to prepare for elections

LATE on the afternoon of February 8, the People’s Progressive Party GECOM commissioners Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn refuted Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield’s earlier statement that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) needed 148 days to run off general and regional elections.

At a press conference, the two (of three) PPP-nominated commissioners stressed that permission was indeed given since January 22 at the first meeting of the body to start operationalising for general elections. Commissioner and Attorney-at-Law Gunraj explained that after the initial go-ahead was given on January 22, the commissioners met again last Tuesday and the same instruction was passed. He expressed shock and disappointment at the CEO’s announcement which was contrary.

He also dismissed claims about the voters’ list needing to be cleansed, noting that it is legally valid and was recently used to effect the local government elections, without complaints from any stakeholders, “You didn’t hear a coo!”. He said the voters’ list, in its current form, is valid until April 30; hence, claims about the need for additional registration were a non-issue.

The extension of the proposed training time for elections day staffers of 105 days indicted, dilatory tactics were at hand, he added. The proposal that Nomination Day must be 55 days was also disputed by Gunraj. He cited the 34 days previously utilised during the previous general election. This say, April 7 being declared as Nomination Day some 34 days prior to the May 11 Elections’ Date.

GECOM must be ready within the 90-day timeframe as stipulated constitutionally, Gunraj further emphasised, adding that the body should always be ready to fulfil this task as mandated. The reported challenges about the procurement of materials such as ink, he opined, were a nonstarter since it was easy to source these and funding could be had from the Consolidated Fund to make up any shortfalls.

According to Commissioner Benn, claims about the time to train teachers, for example, could be resolved with extra time off given the importance of the task at hand since, “we do not have the option to extend the due date.” Benn added that GECOM’s tactics, “raises the idea of a greater scheme afoot, to delay elections.” He posited that GECOM’s players could be deliberately or vicariously or are being threatened not to do more.

Contacted for a response to these claims about operationalising permission, government-appointed Commissioner Vincent Alexander stated that, “the Commission as a collective never did that.”

According to Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, the secretariat has not commenced any work because it needs to be given the go-ahead by the Elections Commission, which is made up of the Chairman, three Commissioners from the governing coalition and three Commissioners from the Opposition PPP.

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