PUBLIC Relations Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Mr. Vishnu Persaud, yesterday indicated that the sixth cycle of continuous registration has, to date, resulted in the registration of some 13,023 new persons, 11,544 of whom have already been verified.

He told this newspaper that of the total, there have been 16,062 transfers, owing to issues related to change of address, etc., and 2,347 changes/corrections to existing registration information.
This cycle of registration ends on Saturday, June 21, 2014, and Persaud stressed the Commission’s appeal for persons to take advantage of the remaining days, rather than wait until the last minute.
Anyone who will be 14 years or older by August 31, 2013, and is either a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent or naturalisation, or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, is eligible for registration during this exercise.
Section Six 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. In the case of eligible persons under the age of 18 years by the qualifying date, the parents/guardians could be prosecuted for failure/refusal to apply for registration.
During this registration exercise, persons who are eligible for registration are required to visit the Registration Office that is responsible for their area of residence to apply for registration.

SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Such persons must be in possession of the relevant source documents as might be necessary to support their applications for registration. These are: 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; and original naturalisation certificate issued by the Home Affairs Ministry and original birth certificate/valid passport – in the case of naturalisation. Evidence (photocopy/duplicate) of an application having been made for naturalisation will not be accepted.
Baptismal certificates, expired passports, photocopies of relevant documents or letters from priests, elders, headmasters, village captains/toshaos and Justices of the Peace or existing ID cards will not be acceptable as source documents for registration.
Persons who were already registered could, if necessary, apply for a name change in the case of the change of name(s) by marriage or deed poll, since they were registered; or apply for correction(s), if there is incorrect information on their National ID cards; or apply for a transfer if they have changed their addresses since they were last registered.
Additionally, persons who are already registered could request that their photographs be retaken if the quality of the photograph on their ID cards is unacceptable, or collect their new ID cards if they have not done so as yet.
GECOM has 28 permanent registration offices located in the 10 administrative regions. Persons are required to visit the registration office that is responsible for the registration of persons in their area of residence to apply for registration or uplift their National Identification Card if they were previously registered and have not done so as yet.
The last cycle was completed in December, 2013, and a date for the next cycle of registration is yet to be set. However, GECOM’s PRO pointed out that persons will have another opportunity as the undertaking is a continuous one.
Written By Vanessa Narine