For local government elections…
GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission), recognising the meaningful contributions of stakeholders in the process, yesterday held a national consultation on the delimitation of constituencies for local government elections.

At the consultation, Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally is flanked by Chief Elections Officer Goocool Boodhoo (at left) and his Deputy Calvin Benn.

At Carifesta Sports Complex, on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, representatives of political parties were among those who participated.

Chairman of the GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally, welcomed the participants to the historic occasion.

In his opening remarks, he said: “It is indeed an historic event, not only because of the consultative approach we have taken on this matter but because it is to deliberate on issues which have never before reached a forum like this.”

Surujbally reminded that, for the first time in Guyana, there is a new system for local governance, which will come into effect through a new mixed electoral process, providing for 50 per cent of each local democratic organ to be elected by proportional representation (PR) and the other half by first past the post, relative to constituency representation on the various councils.

He said the primary focus was to have dialogue on issues associated with the delimitation of constituencies in local government areas that are municipalities or Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), including boundary demarcation and the criteria which will influence that activity.

Surujbally noted that the discussions were strategically planned to follow a series of individual consultations which were conducted within all of the country’s existing local government areas, in keeping with the GECOM policy of transparency and openness.

“These consultations, having been completed, we are here, today, to share with you in a consultative way, the findings and recommendations which emerged from our initial consultations in the fields,” he stated.

Surujbally said: “We, at GECOM, recognised, at the outset, the significance of interactive two-way dialogue in our quest to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and confidence, relative to transparency in carrying out our mandate.”