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…GECOM’s elections preparedness for Cabinet discussion today
The APNU+AFC Government is abiding with the country’s constitution since it is allowing the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to do its work.
This is according to President David Granger who was this afternoon responding to a joint statement issued by the foreign diplomatic missions regarding the country’s electoral process.
The President, who was speaking at the sidelines of a Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GM&SA) luncheon at the Pegasus, said that it is impossible for the Executive to take part in the running of elections, noting that his government will not impede the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
On Thursday morning GECOM’s chair, Justice Claudette Singh informed the President that the electoral body will be ready to undertake the holding of regional and general elections by the end of February 2020.
Shortly after, with the exception of Canada, the joint missions-the US, the European Delegation to Guyana and the British High Commission- said that by surpassing September 18,2019, the Government is in breach of the Constitution “following its failure to adhere to the decisions of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on 18 June and its subsequent orders.”
The President in his response, stressed the importance of the functions of GECOM.”Let the agency do its work,” he said as he noted that the constitution is “very clear” regarding the functions of the electoral body.
The President said he will be meeting with Cabinet to discuss the correspondence from GECOM today, even as he advised the foreign missions to allow the government to resolve the issues.
The GECOM Secretariat has been actively training polling day staff countrywide. Thus far, training of polling day staff has been completed in several regions. In South Georgetown at 20 locations, 1,185 participants have been trained; on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) at 20 locations 1,201 were trained; on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and in Region Five at 21 locations, 1,596 were trained; in Region Six at 25 locations 1,940 were trained and at 25 locations between Regions One, Two and 10, 2,030 were trained.
The commission must now conduct training in the hinterland and in other parts of Georgetown with all training expected to be completed by October.
