– from Monday
THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will commence the conduct of the 3rd Cycle of Continuous Registration March 19, 2012 via the 27 permanent GECOM Registration Offices located in all of Guyana’s ten Administrative Regions. GECOM, in a statement yesterday, said the primary objective of this exercise is to provide registration opportunities to eligible persons who are not registered in the current National Register of Registrants (NRR).  This exercise is earmarked to conclude on June 18, 2012.
Anyone who will be 14 years or older by September 7, 2012, and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalization, or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, is eligible for registration during this exercise.
Persons who are already registered could apply for ‘name change’ if they have changed their respective names since they were registered, or for ‘correction’ if there is incorrect information on their National ID Cards.
Potential registrants are required to visit the GECOM Registration Office that is responsible for the registration of persons from their respective areas of residence to apply for registration.

GECOM said such persons must be in possession of the following source documents as might be necessary to support their application for any registration transaction(s).
*     Original Birth Certificate issued by the General Register Office or a valid Guyana Passport
*     Original Marriage Certificate (and original birth certificate) – in the case of a name change by way of marriage.
*     Original Deed Poll and original Birth Certificate – in the case of any change of name by Deed Poll.
*     Original Naturalization Certificate issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and original Birth Certificate/valid passport – in the case of naturalization.  Evidence (photocopy/duplicate) of an application having been made for naturalization will not be accepted.

GECOM said Baptismal Certificates, expired passports, photocopies of relevant documents, letters from Priests, Elders, Head Masters, Village Captains (Toshaos) and Justices of the Peace as well as existing ID Cards WILL NOT be acceptable as source documents for registration.
All persons who will be eligible for registration, but are not in possession of the relevant supporting document(s) stated above are urged to take immediate steps to acquire the said documents in order to facilitate their respective registration during this Continuous Registration exercise.
The 27 permanent GECOM Registration Offices in the ten Administrative Regions are located as follows:-
1.    Office of the Elections Commission, RDC Building, Mabaruma Compound.
2.    Office of the Elections Commission, Acquero Community Council Building, Moruca
3.    Office of the Elections Commission, Port Kaituma Waterfront.
4.    Office of the Elections Commission, RDC Building, Lower Flat, Southern Section, Anna Regina.
5.    Office of the Elections Commission, Agriculture Extension Centre, Charity.
6.    Office of the Elections Commission, Education Resource Centre, Plantation Walk, West Bank Demerara.
7.    Office of the Elections Commission, Parika Marketing Centre.
8.    Office of the Elections Commission, Former Prime Time Building, Church St, Cummingsburg
9.    Office of the Elections Commission, 49, Sheriff and William Streets, Campbellville.
10.  Office of the Elections Commission, 17, Croal St, (Action Tyre Bldg), Stabroek.
11.  Office of the Elections Commission Church of the Transfiguration Annex, Mandela Avenue .
12.  Office of the Elections Commission, Area M, Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
13.  Office of the Elections Commission, Block M, Soesdyke Junction, Soesdyke (Coverden NDC Building).
14.  Office of the Elections Commission, GuySuCo Compound, Coldingen, East Coast Demerara.
15.  Office of the Elections Commission, Sub-Regional Office, Zes Kinderen, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
16.  Office of the Elections Commission, Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice.
17.  Office of the Elections Commission, Kaitano Building, Princess Elizabeth Rd, New Amsterdam, Berbice.
18.  Office of the Elections Commission Kildonan Multi-purpose Centre, Kildonan, Corentyne, Berbice.
19.  Office of the Elections Commission, Skeldon Primary School Compound, Line Path, Corriverton.
20.  Office of the Elections Commission, 85, 3rd Avenue, Bartica.
21.  Office of the Elections Commission, Regional Sub-Office, Kamarang.
22.  Office of the Elections Commission, Paramakatoi Community School.
23.  Office of the Elections Commission, Eradication Programme Office of the Malaria Division, Mahdia.
24.  Office of the Elections Commission, RDC Compound, Lethem.
25.  Office of the Elections Commission, Regional Development Office, Annai.
26.  Office of the Elections Commission, 23 Republic Avenue, McKenzie.
27.  Office of the Elections Commission, Lot 2, Burnham Drive, Wismar.

The Registration Offices will be open on Mondays to Fridays from 09:00hrs (9 am) to 13:00 hrs (1 pm) & 14:30 hrs (2:30 pm) to 18:00 hrs (6 pm), and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 hrs (1 am) to 14:00 hrs (2 pm). The Offices will be closed on holidays.
GECOM reminded that it is the civic duty and legal responsibility of all Guyanese who will meet the eligibility requirements to apply for registration during this Cycle of Continuous Registration.  By so doing, they would be ensuring that they are (i) issued National Identification  Cards, and (ii) be included on the official lists of electors for future elections if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Section 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter, 19:08 makes it obligatory for persons who meet the registration criteria to apply for registration. Persons eligible for registration could be prosecuted, fined and/or even sent to prison for failing or refusing to apply for registration, according to GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Vishnu Persaud.