Around 18,000 new registrations were recorded during the just concluded Claims and Objections (C&O) exercise.
According to an official of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in addition to the new registrations, only 30 objections had been filed up to the week before the expiration of the period for the exercise.
Although a large number of new registrations were expected during the exercise, the minor number of objections is unusual, particularly since the activity is normally used to remove ineligible registrants, and in particular those persons who have died since registration. PNCR Chief Scrutineer Amna Ally, when contacted, did not have her party’s figures before her in order to explain the situation.
During the C&O exercise, claims associated with entries on to the Preliminary List of Voters (PLV), including name changes and transfers were processed. GECOM also treated with submissions by registrants who may have been issued National ID cards with defective photographs. It is now preparing to intensify its civic and voter education activity for the local government elections.
GECOM has said that the C&O exercise is being used to produce a Register of Voters (RV), comprising electors who are 18 years or over by March 28, 2010, and are Guyanese by birth, descent, naturalisation, or citizens from Commonwealth countries living in Guyana for one year or more.
Meanwhile, GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally recently said that the preparations for the local government elections are well on track, while noting that the commission has allocated, according to plan, ample amounts of time to explain the new electoral system to the electorate. In response to opposition criticism of its lack of a voter education programme in the run up to the upcoming polls, Surujbally explained that the commission is convinced that “the mixed electoral system for the local government elections is so complex and complicated that it warrants a very specific focus.” To this end, he added that the commission would commence educating the public about the local government elections by sharing the least confusing aspects of the new electoral system with the public, simultaneous with the winding down of the Claims and Objections exercise.
Surujbally said all of the manuals pertaining to all facets of the local government elections have already been prepared; the training of staff has already commenced, and the basic texts for the various advertisements, skits, mobile theatrical caravans, panel discussions, etc, have been completed and are undergoing current review. Further, registration officers and electoral registrars have been educated on the specificities pertaining to the mixed electoral system. “With this knowledge they are adequately equipped to conduct public education sessions targeting the electors within the respective local authority areas in keeping with the policy of the commission,” he added.