–GECOM to consider another round of claims & objections

NOMINATION Day for the Local Government Elections (LGEs) will no longer be held next Monday, December 12, due to a proposal submitted by Chief Election Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud for the hosting of another round of “claims and objections” for a new Register of Voters to be produced.

In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said that further deliberations would be needed before the new Nominations Day could be announced. This shift in date, however, is also expected to affect the date for LGEs, which is currently set for March 13.

“The decision was taken at a special meeting of the commission held on Thursday, December 8, 2022, which was held to deliberate on a proposal submitted by the Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud, to conduct an exercise to correct the Registers of Voters (ROVs) for Local Government Elections under Section 24A of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03,” the GECOM statement said.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has since expressed its support for a next round of claims and objections.

According to the GECOM statement, information on the way forward would be shared in a timely manner, with all stakeholders.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Persaud said that the decision on whether or not GECOM would also reopen for the submission of symbols will also have to be determined by the commission.

“This is a position that the commission has to take, but the way I see it, it ought not to be a need for re-submission,” Persaud said.

Political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who are desirous of contesting the upcoming LGEs, had to submit their symbols to GECOM for approval no later than the 21st day before Nomination Day.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, had announced that LGEs will be on March 13, the earliest possible date based on a work plan that was submitted by GECOM to the minister.

The LGEs give Guyanese the opportunity to vote for the councillors that will constitute their Local Authority Areas (LAA).

Guyana has 80 LAAs, 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and 10 municipalities, inclusive of Georgetown. At the LGEs, a citizen can only vote within a LAA where they are a resident.

“[In order to facilitate the claims and objections exercise], it will be necessary for the divisional/Sub-divisional ROVs to be posted at two buildings within each division/sub-division LAA,” Persaud said, adding that this will take seven days.