DEPUTY Chief Elections Officer (DECO) Mr. Vishnu Persaud confirmed yesterday that the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) field work relative to the recent claims and objections period which followed the sixth cycle of continuous registration has been completed.

“The next step is that we have to revise the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE). We have to publish and post that list. So, while the field work is completed, there are sequential activities that have to be addressed internally leading up to the revision and publication of the PLE,” Persaud explained.

The claims exercise ended on August 31st, and the objections period ended on September 3rd. The entire exercise ended on September 7th, but the additional days allowed GECOM to address issues raised during the claims and objections process.

Persaud said that, during the entire process, there was a total of 2,632 new transactions; 2,733 transfers owing to issues related to change of address, among other issues; and 1,208 changes/corrections to existing registration information.

There were also 3,644 objections, of which some 3,074 were dismissed because they were not substantiated. Objections upheld amounted to 162, whilst the remaining 408 objections were withdrawn.
The objections period allowed persons to bring to GECOM’s attention the names of persons who had died, or those who do not meet the eligibility requirements for inclusion on the Official List of Electors. The claims period would 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 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 his/her National Identification Card, if this has not been done as yet, from the nearest GECOM office.
Additionally, Persaud noted that GECOM has undertaken a public awareness initiative that encapsulates a synopsis of its position on several concerns raised by the ruling party over the last few weeks.

“We wanted to ensure that our positions are clear,” the DECO said.

The public awareness initiative, in the form of newspaper advertisements, is expected to be featured for the last day, today, in the local dailies.

GECOM’s hotline numbers are 225-0278-9, 226-6557 or 223-9650.

(Vanessa Narine)