Weekly Update on Preparation for the General and Regional Elections – 2011
GECOM Treating With Lists of Candidates for those Contesting the 2011 General and Regional Elections
The Guyana Elections Commission is currently engaged with the examination of the Lists of Candidates which were submitted to Mr. Gocool Boodoo, Chief Election Officer on Nomination Day, Thursday, October 27, 2011, at City Hall. Seven Political Parties have submitted their respective National Top-up, Geographical Constituency, and Regional Lists of Candidates along with their respective titles and symbols and the names of their relevant appointed Party Agents.
Lists of Candidates were submitted by (i) A Partnership for National Unity (A.P.N.U.), (ii) Alliance For Change (AFC), (iii) Fundamental Structure Group (FSG), Horizon And Star (H.A.S.), (iv) People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), The United Force (TUF), and the East Berbice Development Association (EBDA).
Mr. Mohamed Nasir did not submit Lists of Candidates for his Party i.e. the United Muslim Party, hence this Party did not qualify to contest the Elections.
Mr. Hubert Maloney, who submitted Lists for the Horizon and Star has failed to submit a “correct” logo for his Party by the deadline for so doing, hence this Party did not qualify to contest the Elections.
The examination of the Lists is being conducted by Mr. Boodoo and a Team of designated staff including the Commission’s Legal Officer, from the Commission’s Secretariat, towards ensuring that all of the Lists meet all of the statutory requirements in order for the relevant Political Parties to contest the Elections.
Whereas the FSG has submitted Lists to contest the National Top-up seats, and thirteen of the Geographical Constituency seats in six Regional Elections, the EBDA would, by desire, be contesting the Regional Election in Electoral District 6 only.
Manual examination of all of the Lists of Candidates submitted by the various Parties, resulted in the identification of defects in the Lists submitted by four Parties. All of the concerned Parties were informed of the identified defects and three of them have already taken remedial action. At the time of the dispatch of this release, it was unclear whether the fourth Party would meet deadline for the submission of corrections i.e. 24:00 hours, Sunday, October 30, 2011 (tonight). Should the fourth Party fail to submit corrections by this deadline, it would automatically not qualify to contest the relevant Election(s).
Subsequent to the finalization and approval of the Lists of Candidates the Ballot Papers, Tally Sheets Forms and Statements of Poll Forms would be finalized and sent electronically for printing to Code Inc., a reliable overseas supplier which has over the decades supplied GECOM with such materials.
Accreditation of Local Observers
The Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB), the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), and the British High Commission in Guyana have been accredited as Local Observer Groups for the 2011 General and Regional Elections. Additionally, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is in the process of being accredited as a Local Observer Group. All of these Organisations have agreed to abide by the principles enshrined in the Terms of Reference for Local Observers, failing which the respective accreditation could be rescinded.
Commonwealth Secretariat Team Pays Courtesy Call on GECOM
A two member team of Officers from the Commonwealth Secretariat (CS) paid a courtesy call on GECOM on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at the Commission’s Boardroom. The team comprised Mr. Tafawa Williams and Ms. Julie Broadbent. Prior to this Courtesy call, Mr. Williams and Ms. Broadbent, who were joined by Ms. Ziggy Ojago – a third Representative of the CS, had met with Chairman of GECOM and were updated on the state of GECOM ‘s preparedness for the 2011 General and Regional Elections.
Mr. Williams, Ms. Broadbent and Ms. Ojago, who departed Guyana on Thursday, October 27, 2011, were in Guyana as a precursor group for the Secretariat’s Observer Mission that would be coming to observe the upcoming Elections.
GECOM Completes Printing of the Official List of Electors
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has completed the printing of the Official List of Electors (OLE) for the 2011 General and Regional Elections. The OLE was being printed on specially designed water-marked paper procured from CODE Inc. a reputable overseas supplier which deals in sensitive election materials. The OLE will be used for the conduct of the upcoming Elections.
Vishnu Persaud
Public Relations Officer
30.10.2011.
