…urges use of National Registration Act to sanitise voters’ list

THE Carter Center, during a visit to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Wednesday, put forward a suggestion for utilisation of the National Registration Act to clear the voters’ list of non-residents, which would see elections by August, 2019.

The announcement was made by Commissioner Vincent Alexander who said that the Act allows the commissioner of registration to make the changes.

Meanwhile, the meeting was attended by Atlanta lawyer and grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, Jason Carter, and other members of the Carter Center Davis Caroll and Brett Lacy.

According to the Act: “The commission shall, in so far as practicable, as- certain to its satisfaction whether a change in the residence or domicile of every person named in each report as aforesaid has taken place and, in the event of a change in that person’s residence being so ascertained, his new residential address, and the commissioner, when satisfied that is requisite so to do, shall cause the person’s registration to be cancelled under regulation 38(1)(e), or to be altered as if a claim had been made on that behalf under regulation14(1), as the circumstances permit.”

Alexander noted the visit not only resulted in the unwritten suggestion, but saw the acknowledgement that the country’s current voters’ list is bloated and needs addressing. In addition, the date put forward by the Carter Center representatives is also beyond the March 21, 2019 and April 30, 2019 deadline currently being lobbied for by the opposition.

“They have accepted that on one hand, there should be efforts to meet the deadline in terms of having something on the table before the 21st [of March, 2019] but on the other hand that, that something must cater for rectifying the list which is a matter of concern,” Alexander summed up, adding: “They seem to think that in that circumstance a date of August would be an acceptable date.”

Further explaining the provisions within the National Registration Act, the Commissioner agreed that the suggestion is a viable option for clearing the list of non-residents. “There is a mechanism by which the list could be cleansed of persons who are resident overseas. Not interfering with their constitutional right because the same regulation would permit them – if they wanted to be involved in the elections— to be home at the time of Claims and Objections and to make a claim to go back on the list,” he explained.

“This has surfaced and what the Carter Center has sought to do is to see how they can work around this to come up with a compromise. Their compromise does not fit neatly into what the law provides for, but they’re suggesting that a list of non-resident people could be generated and could be used on elections day to determine whether anybody came to vote for them.”

Asked his thoughts on the suggestion, the commissioner said that he and his colleagues remain open to the possibility but, at the moment, are still of the belief that house-to-house registration is the best option.

He commented: “So far it is house-to-house [registration] that, for me, will meet the requirement and that takes us to November; but I am not unprepared to explore the possibility of using the law that already exists. But, it would need some regulations for it to be operationalised.”

Alexander added that at minimum it would require subsidiary legislation.
Meanwhile, opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj told the media that the suggestion presented by the Carter Center was aimed at “brokering the gulf” existing between the two positions on the commission.”

He stated that the commission will now have to “consider” the proposal, but then added that resolution of the matter remains with the President and leader of the opposition.
“This uncharted territory has to be navigated by the leaders…those proposals will be considered by the commission and hopefully, the gulf that exists between the positions on the commission can be bridged in short order,” Gunraj said.

Meanwhile, Jason Carter also spoke briefly with the media, stating: “We observed a very productive meeting. There was a genuine exchange of ideas; there was a lot of political desire to reach a solution. I think, ultimately, our role here of course is limited. We’re not Guyanese; we care about this country; the Carter Center has been here for many, many years, almost 30 years. This country is important to my grandfather; it’s important to me and my family as well but, ultimately, the issues that are being confronted right now are going to require the cooperation of the political leadership of this country and we are optimistic.”

Through the Carter Center, former United States (US) President, Jimmy Carter, had led the first mission to Guyana with the aim of encouraging sustainable development and developing democratic institutions.

This is the second time that representatives of the Carter Center have approached the commission since the fallout that ensued over the no-confidence motion. Prior to their visit, on Tuesday, GECOM Chairman (Ret’d) James Patterson had informed President David Granger that General and Regional elections can be held by late November 2019, following completion of house-to-house registration.