CONTRARY to the narrative being aired, Government-appointed Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioners have stated that preparations for elections have begun, but only to the level that is possible, without knowledge of an elections date and necessary finance.

The Commissioners also stated that the plans relating to the preparation for house-to-house registration will continue although such did not find favour with the Opposition-nominated Commissioners who staged another walk-out of the statutory meeting yesterday (Tuesday, March 5, 2019).

Coming out of the meeting, Opposition- nominated Commissioner, Robeson Benn, said that the walk-out took place after he questioned the placement of advertisements (ads) by GECOM, for the hiring of staff for house-to-house registration which he referred to as “not a priority activity”.

The ads were first placed in the Sunday, March 3, 2019 edition of newspapers and requested persons to apply to fill the temporary positions of Assistant Registration Officer (ARO) and enumerator for house-to-house registration.

Benn said that it was confirmed that the directive for the placement of the ads was given by the Chairman.

“I objected,” Benn said. “I said this should not happen; that the Chairman’s power and activities in the public and even in there arises from the decision of the Commission. Whether [by way] of vote or a consensus, his actions out there [must] arise from decisions [and] discussions by the Commission.”

However, Commissioner Vincent Alexander later reiterated, as on other occasions, that the decision to proceed with house-to-house registration was voted upon and approved by the Commission in February.

He added that, given the late start of the 2019 work programme, the Secretariat, receiving instruction from the Chairman, is continuing with its plans for the year which have already received funding.

Recounting the fallout of the meeting, Alexander said that the Opposition-nominated Commissioners, displeased with the discussions, made contributions and individually asked to be excused.

Benn had referred to the Commission as “impotent” when questioned whether walking out of the meeting was the best solution to deal with the national issue.
However Alexander said: “The Commission is cognizant of the fact that the work programme does not contradict with preparations for elections and the commission is also cognizant that, in terms of the specifics of the election, those can only be embarked upon when the good gentleman [the President] gives us a date.”

Furthermore, Alexander noted that contrary to the narrative that no election preparations have begun, reports were made at the meeting on the state of preparation of the manuals for elections which are almost complete.

“There are other activities which are not dependent on the allocation from the Parliament which are ongoing which are intended to put GECOM in a state of readiness for the elections,” Alexander said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Charles Corbin explained further: “The Commission is doing everything that it can with the resources it has to proceed with its preparations.”
President David Granger, in a letter to the GECOM Chair, on February 25, 2019, had committed to providing funds for the holding of new General and Regional Elections, appropriated by the National Assembly.

On the same date, the President had invited Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to meet with him to discuss matters relating to the holding of elections and the role of the National Assembly in the situation.

In a subsequent letter on March 4, 2019 from Jagdeo to the President, the Leader of the Opposition proposed that elections be held before April 30, 2019 when the current electors list becomes invalid.

However, the Commissioners told media operatives that that timeframe was impracticable.
“I do not think that all that GECOM has to do [such as] logistical work, training, recruitment of staff, will make it possible for elections in April,” Alexander said.

Meanwhile, Corbin reminded that the shortest preparation period of staff alone ever presented has been 126 days prior to Election Day while the Commission has indicated weeks ago, as it did in 2014, that the shortest possible time period in which elections can be held was 6 months.

Corbin said: “Immediately after the AFC tabled its no-confidence motion in 2014, it visited the Commission to get some information and the first question was ‘in light of the constitutional motion, if this was to go through, how much time do you need’. The Commission answered consistently [6 months].”

Alexander added the insistence to use the extant list is baffling as not only has the Commission long made the decision to renew the list through house-to-house registration every seven years, but Opposition Commissioners had argued strongly for the same prior to the no-confidence ruling.

“The need for work on the list has never been contentious until now when it is not convenient for some to not use the list,” he said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Benn was also asked whether the push for elections to be held by March 21, 2019 is feasible, considering the present date.

He refused to divert from the position, safe to say: “The Constitution says for any extension in relation to the date or time required, the Parliament has to be applied to and it’s as simple as that.”

Also questioned whether the Leader of the Opposition consulted with Opposition-nominated Commissioners prior to his April 30 request to the President, Benn denied same.
“No he doesn’t have to consult with [the Commissioners]. He has to consult with himself or his people,” he said.
The President and the Leader of the Opposition are expected to meet today at the Ministry of the Presidency at 11:00hrs.