THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is continuing to bolster its level of overall preparedness, in the event that there is a move to the polls, and has initiated work on a public awareness campaign.

The campaign, which is expected to be launched soon, will see the airing of 30, 60 and 90-second infomercials on all radio frequencies and television stations. The awareness campaign will also include features to be made in the local daily newspapers.
The Commission has advertised for quotations to develop the 30, 60 and 90-second narrative-type infomercials, with appropriate background footage, as well as the production of 30, 60 and 90-second skit-type infomercials.
While there are expected to be advertisements in the local dailies, the infomercials are expected to be featured on air during both peak and non-peak hours.
This latest effort follows the ongoing recruitment process that will see the establishment of a reservoir of personnel who would be trained comprehensively in Guyana’s registration and election process.
Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Mr. Vishnu Persaud, in a prior interview, told Guyana Chronicle that the move to have a pool of trainers will ensure that the Commission has personnel readily available for temporary employment for any registration or election process at short notice.
He added that this exercise will also remove the need for extensive continuous training, which is both time consuming and costly.
“This will save us a lot of time and money – rather than having to train new people for every new election and registration process, this way we only have to do refresher courses,” Persaud said.

ACTIVITIES OF TRAINERS

According to an advertisement placed by the Commission the responsibilities of these trainers will include: designing and developing materials appropriate to specific training needs pertinent to registration and elections management; organizing and delivering training strategies as appropriate; ensuring that training needs for all temporary staff are met comprehensively and adequately; and maintaining records of training activities.
The activities of the trainers will span Guyana’s hinterland and rural regions and will fall under the supervision of Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Mr. Keith Lowenfield.
“We are targeting about 60 persons who will be trained as trainers to move around the country and train other temporary staff for a registration or election process,” the DECO said.
Persaud also stressed that this exercise is in no way connected to preparations for either local government or general elections. “This is a part of our overall preparedness plan,” he reiterated.

(Vanessa Narine)