THE Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) 3rd cycle of Continuous Registration, which commenced countrywide, yesterday, proceeded without hiccups. GECOM’s Assistant Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield made this statement during a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, hours after the commencement of the exercise, which aims to provide registration opportunities to eligible persons who are not registered in the current National Register of Registrants (NRR).
He explained, “We have not had any reports so far from any of the regions of any hiccups. So far, everything is running smoothly.”
This exercise, which is scheduled to conclude on June 18, 2012, caters to Section 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08, which makes it obligatory for persons who meet the registration criteria to apply for registration.
GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Vishnu Persaud, in a statement issued last week, stressed on the importance of this exercise and reminded that persons eligible for registration could be prosecuted, fined and/or even sent to prison for failing or refusing to apply for registration.
Potential registrants are required to visit the GECOM Registration Office that is responsible for the registration of persons from their respective areas of residence to apply for registration; twenty seven (27) permanent GECOM Registration Offices have been set up in the ten Administrative Regions.

Anyone who will be 14 years or older by September 7, 2012, and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalization, or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, is eligible for registration during the  stipulated period.

The Registration Offices will be open on Mondays to Fridays from 09:00 hrs (9 am) to 13:00 hrs (1 pm) & 14:30 hrs (2:30 pm) to 18:00 hrs (6 pm), and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 hrs (10 am) to 14:00 hrs (2 pm); the Offices will be closed on holidays.

GECOM reminded that it is the civic duty and legal responsibility of all Guyanese who will meet the eligibility requirements to apply for registration during this Cycle of Continuous Registration. By doing this, they would be ensuring that they are (i) issued National Identification Cards, and (ii) be included on the official lists of electors for future elections if they meet the eligibility criteria.

REQUIREMENTS
Persons registering must be in possession of the following source documents as might be necessary to support their application for any registration transaction(s).
*     Original Birth Certificate issued by the General Register Office or a valid Guyana Passport
*     Original Marriage Certificate (and original birth certificate) – in the case of a name change by way of marriage.
*     Original Deed Poll and original Birth Certificate – in the case of any change of name by Deed Poll.
*     Original Naturalization Certificate issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and original Birth Certificate/valid passport – in the case of naturalization. Evidence (photocopy/duplicate) of an application having been made for naturalization will not be accepted.

GECOM said Baptismal Certificates, expired passports, photocopies of relevant documents, letters from Priests, Elders, Head Masters, Village Captains (Toshaos) and Justices of the Peace as well as existing ID Cards WILL NOT be acceptable as source documents for registration.

All persons who will be eligible for registration, but are not in possession of the relevant supporting document(s) stated above are urged to take immediate steps to acquire the said documents in order to facilitate their respective registration during this Continuous Registration exercise.