–Rohee says Party pleased with positive response

DEPUTY Chief Elections Officer (DECO), Mr. Vishnu Persaud yesterday confirmed that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has granted the extension of the claims and objections exercise, as requested by the ruling party.The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) last Thursday wrote to the Commission requesting a one-week extension of the ongoing Claims and Objections period, which started on August 4.

In a statement on the issue, the PPP claimed that an extension, at this “critical” time, is necessary to ensure most, if not all eligible Guyanese are on the list of electors and not disenfranchised whenever elections are called. The ruling party added that it has received “valuable information” from its extensive field work countrywide, which indicated that there are many persons who are still to effect transfer of their particulars from one list to another, especially in new housing schemes.
The DECO told the Guyana Chronicle that, in line with the expressed concerns, the Claims exercise will now come to an end on August 31st and the Objections will end on September 3rd.
“The entire exercise will end on September 7th; the additional days will allow the Commission to address the issues raised during the claims and objections process,” Persaud said.
According to him, as at Sunday, there were a total of 2,071 new transactions, 1,955 transfers, owing to issues related to change of address, etc., and 888 changes/ corrections to existing registration information.
Responding to the extension, PPP General-Secretary, Mr. Clement Rohee, stated that the party is pleased at the positive response from GECOM.
“We welcome the extension…we had a very good basis for calling for the extension and it was on that basis that we wrote to GECOM, making representation on that matter,” he said in an invited comment.
Rohee noted that with the extension, efforts on the ground will be intensified by the party to ensure that “what was not completed” is completed within the one-week extension.
He said, “It is now necessary for us to encourage those who have not affected transfers to do so and for all of the stakeholders to be part of this exercise. There is a strategic objective in the call for the extension.
“…we will concentrate our efforts to ensure that every legitimate voter is on the Preliminary List of Electors. We will also work to ensure that every eligible voter on the National Register of Registrant is moved to the PLE.”
The General-Secretary contended that the extension will assist in ensuring a credible voters’ list.
As the process rolls out, objections can be made for persons who died, or for people who do not meet the eligibility requirements for inclusion on the Official List of Electors.
The Claims period will allow persons to do the following business, if needed:
Register as a New Registrant, if he/she would be 18 years old or older and if his/her name is not on any of the GECOM’s Preliminary Voters’ Lists;
Make changes and corrections to the information which is on the list for him / her;
Move his/her particulars from one List to the List for the area where he/she is now living;
Apply for a new ID card to replace the one which was lost or misplaced; and collect one’s National Identification Card if this has not been done as yet from the nearest GECOM office.
GECOM’s hotline numbers are 225-0278-9, 226-6557 or 223-9650.

(By Vanessa Narine)