Political parties have a right to scrutinise voters’ list
–deems GECOM, APNU criticism ‘unwarranted’

THE ruling party yesterday made it clear that political parties have a right to scrutinize the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE), in whatever method or manner they choose, providing it is done within the meaning of the law.
To this end, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) contends that criticisms by both the Guyana Elections Commission and the main Opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), on its exercise of this right are unwarranted.In a statement, the party said, “The Parties must be free to report their findings of irregularities to GECOM for further verification and corrective actions. In the circumstance, therefore we view the unwarranted criticism by GECOM and APNU as a deterrent to our work on the ground and the placing of our activists at risk while they go about their legitimate duties.”
The PPP highlighted that it was its “ardent field work” that uncovered a number of irregularities with the PLE and on each occasion GECOM was written to for corrective actions.
Some of these findings, according to the ruling party, include the discovery of:
* Eighteen (18) persons listed at one Georgetown address. More glaring is that one of these individuals had a pre-prepared list of names. Interestingly, GECOM responded by a blatant refusal to conduct a physical verification of these persons.
* One address that was listed for five different persons in two separate divisions, hence they are on different voters’ lists and so unless corrected they will be allowed to vote at different polling stations, a case for multiple voting;
* The fact that a GECOM mobile team worked in the evening at Hope Lowland without lights and promised to return but never did only after the PPP’s successful representation to GECOM;
* The “astronomical” increase in New Registrants amounting to almost 80,000 when previously the usual annual increase was recorded at approximately 11,000; and
* Persons who are still to take transfers and make corrections as regards their particulars.
The PPP expressed the view that it is GECOM’s responsibility to ensure that persons are listed in the correct Registration Unit. There should be no excuse from GECOM on this crucial aspect of the Registration process.
The ruling party, in its statement, added that it has led many struggles on the electoral front dating back to the achievement of Universal Adult Suffrage since the 1953 elections right up to the return of democracy in 1992, and in every situation the PPP has championed the cause for every Guyanese to be afforded their Constitutional right and to have free and fair elections in Guyana.
“Today in or out of Government we stand resolute in our demands for transparency at all elections whenever they are called,” the party stressed.