…sets August 29 as deadline for symbols for parties, groups contesting LGE

POLITICAL parties, voluntary groups and individuals hoping to contest the upcoming Local Government Elections have up to August 29 to submit their symbols to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for approval, says its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward.

On Wednesday, Ward told Guyana Chronicle that the contenders are required to submit their applications for symbols, which must include printed and electronic versions of the emblems, to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield.

“Any list of candidates submitted by any political party, voluntary group or individual candidate on Nominations Day, without the pre-approved symbol, will be deemed defective and the defaulting political party, voluntary group or individual candidate will be deemed ineligible to contest the Local Government Elections,” the commission warned in a statement on Wednesday.

Ward said she does not foresee any hiccups in the process, but said there is a possibility that contenders may submit similar symbols. If such occurs, she said there is a system in place that allows for preference to be given to the political party, voluntary group or individual candidate who submitted first, allowing for the others to re-submit within a particular timeframe.

In 2016, three political parties, 17 voluntary groups and 63 individual candidates contested the historic March, 18, Local Government Elections in a mixed system of Proportional Representation and First Past the Post.

With just four months left before the November 12 Local Government Elections, the CEO said GECOM will soon be rolling out a comprehensive Public Education and Awareness Campaign.

He said unlike 2016 when the commission partnered with the Ministry of Communities to educate the populace on the importance of such elections, it will only be focussing on the conduct of Local Government Elections and not the benefits.

Lowenfield disclosed that in coming days, the commission will publish in the local press a column under the title “GECOM, Local Government Elections and You” to provide important information on the electoral process.

Ward, in a separate interview, explained that the columns will focus on the mixed system of Proportional Representation and First Past the Post. Additionally, in those columns, the commission will detail the criteria to become a councillor and the requirements for voters.
The PRO said it is important for eligible Guyanese to participate in the upcoming elections, and GECOM will play its part to ensure that they are knowledgeable of the process.
She said as the country moves closer to the elections, GECOM will intensify its Public Education and Awareness Campaign by utilizing print, television and digital media to “ensure that the information reaches the population in a clear and concise manner.”
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Communities will intensify its awareness campaign for both councillors and voters ahead of the Local Government Elections. The Ministry is targeting various levels of existing and prospective candidates of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) across the country.

In June this year at the launching of a public awareness campaign on the lawns of Parliament Buildings, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said local government organs are critical in nation-building, noting that integral to the approach is a better resourced and organised local government system; one that is effective in the discharge of its functions.
The awareness campaign is also intended to improve voter turnout by highlighting the benefits of such elections which are designed to empower those on the ground. In 2016, only 43 per cent of the persons listed as eligible, turned out to vote. It is hoped that with a strategic awareness campaign in place, the turn out would significantly improve. Government has budgeted $2.9B for the hosting of Local Government Elections.