THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has welcomed the offer by Canada to provide voting machines for electronic counting of votes for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).
In a release on Tuesday the party disclosed that they have also noted the offer by the United States (US) Government to make available electronic tabulation of the results of elections.
Alluding to the fact that, legal steps would have to be instituted to facilitate the introduction of machines for electronic counting and for tabulation of votes at any elections in Guyana, the PPP said they have already issued a call for the electoral reforms which include the likes of enhanced biometrics and e-voting among others.
“Guyana Elections Commission GECOM must be integrally involved at all stages in respect of these offers and must, in the final analysis, be a key decision-maker on the matter, not the government alone,” the PPP said in its statement. The party noted that the introduction of machines for E-counting must be discussed with all the stakeholders in a timely and transparent manner.
The PPP is of the view that after twenty-three years with absolutely no reforms at GECOM to cater for institutional strengthening through more transparent and impartial practices with a view to enhancing its capacity to produce free and fair elections the time has come for reforms at GECOM to be placed on the front burner. Prior to 1992 elections the following reforms were instituted; counting of the votes at the place of poll; a new voters’ list compiled on the basis of house to house enumeration; expansion of the Elections Commission and the selection of a new Chairman and international and local Observers to be present at polling stations.
The PPP is convinced that with the following reforms enjoying the support of the Government, Donor Community and other stakeholders, Guyana’s electoral system supervised by GECOM will see the cleansing of the Augean stables thus enabling GECOM to make a “fresh start”.
These reforms include; enhanced bio-metrics; electronic voting; bringing the GECOM Secretariat under the purview of the Commission to enable the Commission to give the Secretariat general orders and directions; recruitment of Gecom’s key election officials such as Returning Officers and Presiding Officers and Poll Clerks through improved transparent and impartial practices; a new voters’ list to be compiled on the basis of a fresh house to house enumeration; review the process that allows for voting by the Disciplined Services; amend the relevant sections of the Representation of the People’s Act to allow for the enactment of appropriate legislation to facilitate implementation of agreed reforms and election of a new Chairman of GECOM.