– as application process for approval of symbol reopens
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall has set Monday, June 12, 2023, as the date for the holding of the much-anticipated and long overdue Local Government Elections (LGE) in Guyana.
This was announced on Thursday evening. Section 35 (1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03 empowers the Local Government Minister to appoint a day for the elections.
Last week, the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh had written the Local Government Minister asking him to set May 22 this year for the conduct of the local polls.
But on Thursday, Minister Dharamlall responded to the GECOM Chair and indicated that the LGE were set for June 12 instead.
LGE were initially set for March 13 this year, but GECOM had deferred it in December 2022 to address issues relating to its registration exercise. This postponement occurred after court action was filed by Opposition-aligned persons, challenging the process used to compile the List of Electors, or Voters’ List, for the pending LGE.
“This decision was taken at a special meeting of the Commission held on Thursday, 8th December, 2022 which was held to deliberate on a proposal submitted by the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Mr Vishnu Persaud to conduct an Exercise to correct the Registers of Voters for Local Government Elections under Section 24A of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03,” the Elections Commission had explained last December.
Only last week, the seven-member Elections Commission approved a new work plan produced by CEO Persaud that recommended May 22, 2023, as the earliest possible date for the holding of the local polls based on the Secretariat’s capacity.
Reopening of symbols approval applications
Meanwhile, GECOM has been in preparation mode over the past few months as it gears up for the long overdue elections.
On Thursday, the Commission announced that it has reopened the process to provide a further opportunity for political parties, groups, or individuals wanting to contest the upcoming LGE to submit their applications for approval of their symbols.
Section 48(1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03, provides that all political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who are desirous of contesting LGE are required to submit a symbol for approval by GECOM no later than the 21st day before Nomination Day.
In this regard, GECOM said in a statement on Thursday that March 1, 2023 has been set as the date by which a printed and electronic version of the symbols must be submitted to the Commission.
However, it was explained that those political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who have already applied for approval of their symbols, and who would have already received notification that their symbols were approved are NOT required to reapply.
“Political parties, voluntary groups, and individual candidates are required to submit, on Nomination Day, their respective lists of candidates accompanied by the relevant pre-approved symbol. In this regard, political parties, voluntary groups, and, individual candidates are advised that their lists would NOT be accepted without a pre-approved symbol,” GECOM stated.
Submissions of symbols can be made directly to the Office of the Chairman at 41 High and Cowan Streets, Kingston, Georgetown in sealed envelopes clearly marked, “Application for Symbol – Local Government Elections – 2023”. Alternatively, applications can also be submitted via email at [email protected] or, in the case of outlying Local Authority Areas (LAAs), to the GECOM Registration Offices.
GECOM has previously indicated that its approved work plan entails, among other things, that the Elections Secretariat would immediately move to roll out a robust civic and voter education programme, appoint Electoral Registrars and Assistant Electoral Registrars, and extract the Preliminary List of Voters (PLV).
“These activities are directly linked to the preparation of Registers of Voters for each of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). Preparation for the conduct of Local Government Elections commenced in 2022,” GECOM explained.
“In this regard, the GECOM Secretariat had already completed the training of management and polling day staff for all of the Local Authority Areas, and the receipt of applications for and approval of symbols submitted by political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who intend to contest in the elections.”
Only earlier this month, GECOM had decided to adopt a report from the CEO confirming changes to constituency boundaries, moving the Commission closer to holding elections – although not without a fight from the Opposition-nominated Commissioners.
It was decided last year that 14 areas in which boundaries were modified by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government would be reverted in the lead-up to the LGE when they are held, to allow for better representation.
Minister Dharamlall had announced at a press conference in November that changes were made after consultations with communities and residents in the interest of democracy building.
While the decision was made to revert to the boundaries as they were before they were changed in the year 2016, other communities which were previously not captured would be placed under townships and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). In some areas, NDCs will also be merged or split.
The Elections Commission will now move to set a date for Nomination Day, given that the date of the polls has been set. LGE, which are constitutionally due every two years, were last held in 2018.
At the November 2018 local polls, the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 LAAs. This had followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, during which the PPP/C also claimed the majority of the LAAs.
