–President Ramotar

HEAD of State, President Donald Ramotar, is of the opinion that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is better prepared for the holding of general elections, as opposed to local government polls.“GECOM continues to say that they are ready for the election, but I think they could very well be more ready for a national election than a local government election, because there is a different procedure that has to be going through with local government election,” he said at a press conference last Friday at the Office of the President.
The President explained that with local government elections, GECOM has to create boundaries, among other activities, unlike the procedure necessary for the hosting of general elections.
“The last time I had a discussion with an official from the elections commission, they were telling me that whenever the Government or the Administration wants to announce the date for local government elections, they need six months… but I don’t think the same thing would apply to a national election,” Mr. Ramotar added.
Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Vishnu Persaud, told the Guyana Chronicle that whichever election is called, GECOM is prepared to respond, as is its mandate.
He however noted that the status quo still remains, relative to the hosting of local government elections, in that the Commission will need six months to put in place all that is necessary for Guyanese to go to local government polls.
“The Chairman (Dr. Steve Surujbally) has been clear on our preparedness for elections,” Persaud said, adding that the onus is not on GECOM to call either election, but is prepared to host whichever one is called. “Whichever is called, we will respond; that is our mandate,” he said.
While the last general elections were held in November 2011, local government elections have not been held in Guyana since 1994. Prior to that, local government elections were last held in 1970. Subsequent to 1994, the elections could not be conducted because of the coincidence with the general and regional elections of 1997. Additionally, the House passed the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2013, which states that elections must be held on or before August 1, 2014. The August date was made via an amendment to the Bill, proposed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), while the House was in Committee. However, this bill has not been assented to by the Head of State.