THE Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) seventh cycle of continuous registration ends on December 3, and the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday reiterated its call for Guyanese to make use of the period before a date is set for early general and regional elections.Earlier this month, President Donald Ramotar made it clear that Guyana will go to general and regional elections and indicated that a date could be announced as early as when he delivers his New Year’s Day message to the nation. Mr. Ramotar’s announcement of a move to general and regional elections comes after his November 18 invitation, via letter, to Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, was rejected.
Speaking during the PPP’s weekly press conference at Freedom House yesterday, the party’s General-Secretary, Clement Rohee, noted that because of the President’s announcement of an early move to general and regional elections, the seventh cycle of continuous registration will not end on March 13, 2015, as originally planned.
He said, “This will be the last opportunity for persons to ensure they are on the voters’ list nearest to their current place of residence, so as to avoid having to travel long and expensive distances to cast their ballots, or worse yet, be forced to give up their democratic right due to unforeseen circumstances that might prevent them to travel on ‘E-Day’.”
Rohee added that unlike the last claims and objections period, GECOM will not be doing transfers during the next claims and objections period, which will commence immediately after the close of the registration period.
“The next 10 days minus, Christmas and Boxing days, will be the only opportunity available to conduct these transactions before the next election,” he said.

CALL FOR MOBILE UNITS
The PPP General-Secretary also reiterated the party’s call for GECOM to send mobile units into several area, where a large number of persons are still to make transfers, to ensure they are listed on the appropriate voters’ lists.
He said, “The PPP had indicated time and again that the findings from our field work indicate a large number of persons still to take transfers, especially in the New Housing Schemes across the country.
“…with most persons working, coupled with the Christmas holidays and our local traffic situation during this season, it is very difficult for persons to find the time either on weekends or weekdays, after work, to visit GECOM Offices, therefore the PPP reiterates its call on GECOM to send mobile teams into these areas urgently. Mobile teams must be dispatched on days and at times convenient to the residents and must spend adequate time in each community visited.”
Rohee said these areas include Fort Ordnance, Glasgow, Number 76 Housing Schemes in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne); Diamond Scheme in Region 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica); and Parfaite Harmonie and Tuschen Schemes in Region 3(Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara).
“The party is convinced that there are still significant numbers of persons who are still to visit GECOM offices to conduct their transactions, which include new registrations, transfers, replacement of identification cards and uplifting identification cards,” he said.
GECOM has 28 permanent registration offices located in all of 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 Cards, if they were previously registered and have not done so as yet.
As of last Wednesday, the Commission recorded some 4,277 registration transaction, with 3,116 being new transactions; 611 changes of registration information; and 550 transfers.
“The PPP joins with all Guyanese in calling on the Guyana Elections Commission to put every possible mechanism in place to ensure we have free and fair elections come 2015,” Rohee concluded.