Home Letters GECOM must commence a period of claims and objections, and not be...
Dear Editor,
The recent Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM’s) cycle of continuous registration exercises came to an end on May 29th, 2022. The highly commendable efforts of the GECOM staff in this regard fulfill the legal requirements for updating the Register of Registrants and making it the most current basis for deriving an updated Voters list. The preparatory position augurs well for the urgent holding of Local Government Elections (LGEs), but elicits reactions from certain quarters designed to slow down this significant achievement.
Amidst the challenges of flood-prone areas, the objectives of the continuous registration exercises were largely successful, as all the permanent offices across the country were in full operation, together with the mobile operations that contributed in a very effective way. To this end, various media reports confirm that over 65,000 transactions in various categories were completed since the process began. Included are first-time applicants (Category A) between the of ages 14 and 17, and in (Category B) 18 years and older, who sought replacements for Identification Cards and photograph retakes, applied for changes and corrections, and requested transfers.
GECOM has notably informed of several parallel due-diligence undertakings and clarified activities concerning (i) the responsibility for the filling of the registration forms, (ii) signature of applicants for registration, residency verification, (iv) cross-matching of fingerprints, and (v) production and distribution of National Identification Cards. Keen attention to the follow-up activities is likely the focus of the key political players and citizens at large, given the peremptory position and objections to the process from some Opposition quarters.
With the completion of the successful period of continuous registration, GECOM must now produce the updated Register of Registrants and commence a short period of claims and objections so that all stakeholders could have a thorough look at the List and make sure its readiness for the Local Government Elections.
This process would produce a Voters List that would be valid for six months, and as such, there must be LGEs as soon as possible.
Notwithstanding, it is extremely funny to see that GECOM is being pressed by Opposition Commissioners in a call for the use of biometrics in ascertaining voters’ identity on voting day. The hypocrisy in this convenient slowdown tactic is extremely glaring and flagrant.
Not so long ago, there was the almost outright use of this intervention as a strengthening reconciliatory tool in the facilitation of automated processing and delivery of results. The learned Chairman and Commissioners ought to be aware that the use of such systems must first have the necessary supporting legal framework in place before its implementation.
One will recall that, in 2018, the UN had organised funding and well-planned meetings for the discussion with GECOM and other stakeholders, implementation of much talk about the use of ‘Biometrics’. However, it was the PNC/APNU/AFC unilaterally appointed Chairman Patterson and his colleagues at GECOM who refused to attend the UN meetings, and they frustrated all efforts to move on with the biometrics. The UN team had visited Guyana and met with various stakeholders to gain information for their needs assessment task, and to respond to requests by GECOM to furnish information technology experts.
At the Tuesday, August 7, 2018 meeting, Patterson had mystified the Commission’s statutory meeting when he stated that he had cancelled ‘indefinitely’ a meeting scheduled for 5:00 pm that day to review with the United Nations (UN) Mission the report and proposal of the United Nations Risk Assessment Team in respect of upcoming Local Government and National Elections in Guyana.
The view of some Commissioners was that the Chairman had received copies of the UN report and proposal, at least one week before, when the question of a meeting was first discussed, but had only released the report to the Commissioners on the evening of August 6, 2018, creating (deliberately?) issues with adequate time to review and consider the report.
We should be aware of all the PNC/APNU tactics to avoid contesting LGEs. The biometrics plan must be put aside, and all systems must be put in place to hold the overdue elections. The biometrics suggestion at this time calls for serious security control discussions and the enactment of laws to implement before implementation. Further, this will be very time-consuming and will cost huge financial expenditure related to the preparation and training of staff, particularly the recruiting of the quality of staff that would be required and the preparation and purchasing of the necessary equipment, they are too much at this time.
Recent history is replete with the characteristic PNC stagnating delays, and the unforgiving five months of the brutal disposition of the thieves and liars is a good enough lesson for all Guyanese to appreciate that we have to stop them. We, as a nation, must unite and demand free and fair elections.
Sincerely,
Neil Kumar
