THE REFUSAL of the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1972 to meet the request of the leaders of the opposition for an extension of the time of registration once again demonstrates the callous disregard for democratic processes and the wishes of the majority of Guyanese.
It must be remembered that it was the PNC, forearmed with the date and period of registration, which carried out an extensive campaign to get their supporters registered.
It was the PPP that fought for the independence of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) which was under the control of the Minister of Home Affairs.
Although the National Registration was not a registration of voters,it became a voters’ registration list by an act of Parliament.This matter came up in 1967 when national registration first took place and the PPP members of the Elections Commission,protested that the registration of voters,should be a seperate exercise from the National Registration.The Constitution which stated precisely that “The Election Commission shall exercise general direction and supervision over the registration of electors.”
The Elections Commission was never allowed to exercise any direction or supervision over the registration of the electors.The PNC handpicked all the registration officers,conducted a National Registration under the supervision of the CIA-backed Shoup Registration system International,and then baptised it an electoral roll.Under the PPP/C today its democratic.Even the PNC’s member on the Elections Commission later to become a minister of the PNC government,had to agree with the contention of the PPP commissioner about the question of the national registration.
After the 1992 General and Regional Elections under the Constitution the Commission was absolutely independent and not subjected to the direction or control of any person or authority;Article 119 (1)
It is interesting to note that voters will be allowed to register because they would lose their right to vote for the party of their choice.