APPROXIMATELY 22,500 transactions have been completed since the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) commenced its continuous registration exercise.

These transactions range from new registrations, replacement identification cards, changes and corrections and transfers.
GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, said that, so far, the response was quite exceptional for the four-week period; however, she believed more persons should take advantage of the process, especially with the flexibility in the hours of work.

“We have a constant flow, but I think that it can be better as just over the weekend, we may have wrapped up across the board over 20,000 transactions. But I think that we have a long way to go and so I want to impress upon persons the legal requirements for registration to become eligible to vote,” Ward said.

So far, the agency has been able to record a “fair number” of new registrants. In light of this, Ward underscored the importance of getting registered as it not only allows one to obtain an ID card to transact business, but also become eligible to vote.

She said: “I really want to urge parents here, as well as the kids, to ensure that they use this opportunity to have their registration transaction done. As you know, due to some challenges we had at the commission, we haven’t had the registration exercise for just about two years.”

Ward reminded Guyanese that the agency was not conducting any house-to-house registration process, nor did the commission authorise its employees to collect information for such an exercise.
“Our registration exercise is not a house-to-house process. It is required that you visit the offices to have your registration transaction,” she said.

As it relates to those who might be immobile to visit these offices for replacement ID cards, be it the young or old, Ward said that there is a protocol in place which involves scrutineers.

Each GECOM registration office operates from Monday to Friday between 08:00 hours and 18:00 hours. On the weekend, persons could visit the offices between 10:00 hours and 14:00 hours.
Some $4.1 billion has been approved for GECOM to conduct its 2022 work programme. (DPI)