‘GECOM  on the ball’ – Surujbally
GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) is “on the ball” and plans for the upcoming general and regional elections are moving smoothly.
The Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally made the pronouncement, in an invited comment on Tuesday, after GECOM held its most recent statutory meeting, at which the body addressed preparations for the Claims and Objections period.
He said that process is likely to begin either at the end of April or the beginning of May.
Surujbally added:“As the Claims and Objections period moves along, the  commissioners will be meeting more regularly.”
He said there was a quorum at the Tuesday forum, with only one commissioner absent. The Chairman  and two commissioners from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and a similar number from the Opposition would suffice for a quorum.
GECOM had drawn criticisms, in the past weeks, for postponing its statutory meetings but Surujbally maintained that the work plan for upcoming elections has not been affected.
He told the Guyana Chronicle that the commissioners will be meeting more often, as time nears for the setting of a likely date for the polls.
Elections are constitutionally due every five years and the date can possibly be announced by August.
The constitution and the Representation of the Peoples Act makes provisions for the election of members of the National Assembly under a system of Proportional Representation (PR).
The House has 65 members, 25 elected from the 10 geographical constituencies and 40 awarded on the basis of block votes secured.  (Vanessa Narine)