SEVERAL issues of import constituted the agenda for discussions between the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday at the Commission’s Head office in Kingston.“The meeting was very cordial and fruitful with a number of issues discussed and possible solutions brought to the table…the two- hour long meeting saw the two sides engage in frank discussions, which they both concluded will contribute to free and fair elections thus satisfying the test of international best practices,” the party said in a statement yesterday.

The high- level PPP/C team was led by the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee, Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha and other senior party members. The GECOM team at the meeting included: GECOM’s Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally; Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Vishnu Persaud; and Commissioners Dr. Keshav Mangal, Mr. Vincent Alexander, Ms. Sandra Jones, Mr. Charles Corbin, Mr. Mohamood Shaw and Mr. Athmaram Mangar. Also at the meeting was the Commission’s Legal Officer, Ms. Juanita Barker.
The PPP yesterday disclosed that the meeting was in direct response to the request made by the PPP/C to discuss current issues and provide the party with an opportunity to quiz GECOM on their plans to problematic areas that were of concern in 2011, as well as address the systems in place to ensure a fair and transparent process.
POLLING PLACES AND STAFFAccording to the party, among the issues raised and discussed was the selection of polling places and public awareness.
“On the selection of polling stations, GECOM indicated that steps will be taken to avoid as far as practicable the use of private residences as polling stations and to avoid last- minute changes to polling places.
“Unavoidable changes must be done in consultation with political parties. Unlike 2011, polling stations will be checked, approved and made public so as to afford voters the early knowledge of such places and the location in their respective communities.”
Also, the PPP delegation was informed that GECOM’s permanent staff will serve as Information Clerks, as against the inexperienced and lesser qualified staff, as was done previously and which created confusion and frustration for voters.
The recruitment of GECOM’s polling-day staff was another issue up for discussion and the PPP delegation insisted that proper background checks of applicants must be done by GECOM in order to recruit suitable persons who are deemed fit to execute their duties in a professional and neutral manner on “E-Day.”
The party said, “The PPP delegation called for a public vetting process and committed to provide GECOM with justifications in respect of persons not suitable for employment by GECOM.
“The party delegation advised that for GECOM to gain public trust and allow for further vetting, GECOM must make public the names of all persons to be employed earliest. Additionally, the party requested GECOM to inform all political parties about training schedules and to make accessible to political parties, the training manuals.”
To this end, the PPP recommended that presiding officers found guilty of intentional and biased acts in previous elections be blacklisted from playing any role in future elections.
GECOM’s CEO reported that this matter is currently engaging the attention of the Commission.
VOTERS’ FOLIO
The introduction of the folio, which is a list of electors with photo identification in the 2011 Elections was lauded as a significant stride in the right direction, affording party polling agents the opportunity to properly identify and verify voters.
However, as was previously reported, polling stations were given one folio for all party polling agents rather than one for each agent, and this was a concern that the PPP registered.
The party said, “At some stations no folio was available. Added to that, the pictures of the electors were very poor in quality. The PPP delegation expressed its satisfaction with GECOM’s decision to make folios available to each party’s polling agent and hailed this decision as necessary in the conduct of free and fair elections.”
GECOM’s chairman gave the assurance that the Commission had already taken a policy decision that this must be the standard operating procedure.

“The PPP General Secretary reminded GECOM that the PPP fought long and hard for the implementation of electoral reforms and for the people of Guyana to enjoy free and fair elections. These gains he said should be upheld and not be frittered away.” – PPP

CANDIDATES’ RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
The PPP delegation also used the meeting to remind GECOM of “the 2011 horrors” experienced by PPP candidates and insisted that they should have never been allowed.
In light of this, the party delegation recommended that such lapses must be corrected in future elections.
“During ‘E’ Day 2011, PPP candidates including the party’s current general secretary were denied their rights and prevented from entering polling stations, especially in Region 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica),” the party charged.
After discussions, the PPP reported that the issue was ventilated and GECOM assured the delegation that all candidates representing political parties will be properly accredited and that GECOM staff will be made aware of the rights and privileges of candidates.
“The PPP general secretary reminded GECOM that the PPP fought long and hard for the implementation of electoral reforms and for the people of Guyana to enjoy free and fair elections. These gains he said should be upheld and not be frittered away,” the PPP said.
The chairman assured the party that the Commission was very cognizant of these concerns and that efforts are in progress to ensure that the past occurrences are not repeated. To this end, he underscored that the rights and privileges of candidates, assistant election agents and counting agents on Elections Day are integrally included in the training of personnel to work for the upcoming elections.
OTHER ISSUES
Additionally, GECOM has since indicated that it made clear that it has given the assurance to the ruling party that the Commission – within the confines of the relevant legal provisions, and its own considered policy positions – would respond positively to concerns raised by this party as far as is practicable.
* Relative to the various issues addressed the Commission, according to a press statement, assured that it would:
* Provide the party with a copy of the Training Schedules for polling day staff as they emerge;
* The number of private residences used as polling stations in the 2011 General and Regional Elections being reduced and this particular concern was on the front burner of the Commission and that ongoing efforts were focused on public buildings being used as far as possible;
* There should be no “last- minute” changes to polling stations; however, while this is something with which the Commission will never want to be faced, it will have no alternative in a scenario wherein a person/organisation reneges on his/her/its previous formal agreement to make the concerned premises available to be used as a polling station; and that
* GECOM’s Public Education Strategy pays special attention to the concern of ballots being rejected.
WIDER CONSULTATIONS
Another important area where the two parties reached an agreement was in relation to wider consultations.
GECOM has agreed to engage in wider consultations with major political stakeholders and other interest groups in dealing with concerns that pose possible threats to the electoral process and in taking key decisions that will affect the electorate.
Additionally, the PPP and GECOM are expected to meet again to continue discussions on other issues, which will ensure that future elections are transparent and credible.
Monday’s meeting followed an indication from President Donald Ramotar, in early December that Guyana will head to early elections in 2015, after just three years since the last general and regional elections.
Once a proclamation announcing a date for early elections is made by the President, constitutionally, GECOM has three months within which to deliver. The last general and regional elections were held in November, 2011.