CHAIRMAN of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally has given a commitment that GECOM will maintain its open-door policy to meet with key Stakeholders in the run up to the General and Regional Elections – 2011.  This pledge was made during a meeting between GECOM and a team of representatives from the Private Sector Commission (PSC) last Tuesday in the Commission’s Boardroom, immediately before the Commission’s 328th Statutory Meeting. The PSC’s team was led by Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo, Chairman of the Organisation, and included Mr. R. Rambarran – Executive Director, and Mr. Komal Ramnauth, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Norman McLean, Mr. Gerry Gouveia, Mr. Christopher Nascimento, and Ms. Elizebeth Alleyne.

A GECOM release said the PSC had requested the meeting to discuss several areas of concern which had been raised during prior meetings between the PSC and some of the political parties in Parliament; and which the PSC shared.  

Foremost among the concerns were (i) persons who were unable to apply for registration because they were not in possession of the required source documents, (ii) undelivered national identification cards, (iii) revival of the Code of Conduct for political parties with regard to General and Regional Elections – 2011, (iv) the independence of GECOM, (v) foreign Observer Missions being invited to monitor the elections, (vi) resuscitation of the GECOM  Media Monitoring Unit (MMU), and (vii) the intention of the PSC to be accredited as a Local Observer of the upcoming elections.

Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo, Chairman of the PSC gave the assurance that this meeting represented an indication of the organisation’s desire to contribute to the successful conduct of the upcoming elections in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. 

Noting that GECOM appreciates the objective of the PSC, and viewed the initiative as “a partnership with the Commission”, Dr. Surujbally emphasized that the continuation of this consultative approach is a crucial element in the maintenance of Stakeholder confidence in GECOM’s capacity to manage the upcoming elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Responding to the issues raised by the PSC, Dr. Surujbally delineated the following:-

* GECOM had documented, during the 2008 House-to-House Registration exercise, the particulars of approximately 38,000 persons who could not apply for registration because they were not in possession of the required source documents. This information had been shared with the General Registrar Office and the political parties in Parliament, with the request that they take all possible action towards ensuring that the concerned persons could apply for registration. 

The Commission had sought and participated at meetings involving key stakeholders including the Registrar General, to place emphasis on the need for the situation to be addressed. The Registrar General had been convincingly adamant that her office was treating efficiently with applications for registration, but that birth certificates cannot be issued to persons whose births were not registered, nor can birth certificates be issued to persons who have not applied.

GECOM had assisted in the distribution of Bbirth certificate application forms in  hinterland communities for persons to apply for the document. In many instances GECOM staff paid the fees associated with application for birth certificates from their own pockets.

The Commission had emphasized, since before the implementation of Continuous Registration in 2005, and prior to and during every subsequent registration exercise, that all persons were eligible for registration, but who were not in possession of the relevant supporting document(s), must take immediate steps to acquire the said documents in order for them to apply for registration.  We have been pleading for  persons to get their source documents for almost six years now.

Considering these and other relevant issues, the Commission concluded and agreed that, regardless of the cut off point, there would always be persons without source documents. Accordingly, the Commission took the unanimous decision that an extension of the period for Claims and Objections was not warranted.

* With respect to undelivered National Identification Cards, the statistics reveal that as at June 11. 2011, we still had in our possession 29,570 ID cards produced from the 2008 House-to-House Registration exercise, 1,613 from the Claims and Objections Exercise for Local Government Elections, 9,946 from the 2nd Cycle of Continuous Registration, and 2,058 cards prepared as a result of applications for corrections/changes and replacements. This represents a total of 43,187 ID cards still in our possession as at June 11. 2011. 

GECOM had broadened the distribution of ID cards by making them available for upliftment from all of the Temporary Registration Offices across Guyana  which were established to facilitate the conduct of the just concluded Claims and Objections exercise. This wide distribution network will remain in place until the end of this month at which time the Temporary Offices will be closed, the exercise having been concluded. Thereafter, persons will be required to visit the respective Permanent Registration Offices (27 nationwide) to uplift their cards which we will continue to distribute during official working hours.

Further, being cognizant that registrants who live in far flung communities in Districts 1, 7, 8 & 9 do not have the wherewithal to visit the respective Registration Offices, the Commission gave approval for the conduct of a special exercise to distribute ID cards in those areas through the use of Mobile Distribution Teams including Scrutineers. 

The Chairman noted that the Commission will continue in its quest to deliver as many of the remaining ID cards as possible before Election Day, and invited the PSC to help in this regard.

* The revival of the Code of Conduct for political parties with regards to General and Regional Elections – 2011 is an issue that is currently engaging the attention of Mr. Gocool Boodoo, Chief Elections Officer.

* The independence of GECOM was never compromised, and the Commission’s work is carried out in keeping with the Oaths of Office which were taken by its Members.

* The government has indicated that it intends to invite Observers from Organisations outside of Guyana. Also, there are provisions for the accreditation of Local Observers e.g. the PSC who would have to operate within the parameters of a relevant Rules of Procedures.  

* Dr. Surujbally has already written Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat advocating that the reassembling of the Unit be given priority consideration on the grounds that the time is now opportune for the restoration of the MMU.

Mr. Gouveia was unambiguous in stating his belief in the independence of GECOM, while Mr. Dookhoo pledged that the PSC will continue to focus its attention on matters of national interest in contributing to the successful conduct to the General and Regional Elections – 2011. 

Dr. Surujbally gave the assurance that GECOM will always be receptive to requests from key Stakeholders for meetings to discuss pertinent matters associated with the successful conduct of the elections.

The GECOM team at the meeting, which was led by Dr. Surujbally, included Commissioners Mr. C. Corbin, Dr.  K. Mangal, Mr. M. McDoom, Mr. M. Sha Mr. R. Williams, Mr. G. Boodoo –Chief Elections Officer, Mr. C. Benn – Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Mr. K. Lowenfield – Assistant Chief Elections Officer, and  Mr. V. Persaud – Public Relations Officer.