Persons who have not yet registered will be able to do so from next Monday when the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) launches a new continuous registration exercise.
The 27 permanent Gecom registration offices in Guyana’s 10 administrative regions will be open to provide registration opportunities to eligible persons who are not registered in the current National Register of Registrants (NRR), a statement from the commission said yesterday. The exercise is earmarked to conclude on June 18, 2012.
Gecom said that anyone who will be 14 years or older by September 7, 2012 and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalisation, or is a citizen from a Common-wealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, is eligible for registration during this exercise. In addition, persons who are already registered could apply for ‘name change’ if they have changed their names since they were registered, or for ‘correction’ if there is incorrect information on their National ID Cards.
Potential registrants are required to visit the Gecom Registration Office that is responsible for the registration of persons from their respective areas of residence to apply for registration, the statement said.
Such persons must be in possession of their original Birth Certificate issued by the General Register Office or a valid Guyana passport; original Marriage Certificate (and original birth certificate) – in the case of a name change by way of marriage; original Deed Poll and original Birth Certificate – in the case of any change of name by Deed Poll; original Naturalization Certificate issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and original Birth Certificate/ valid passport – in the case of naturalization.
The statement emphasised that evidence (photocopy/ duplicate) of an application having been made for naturalisation will not be accepted. It added that Baptismal Certificates, expired passports, photocopies of relevant documents, letters from Priests, Elders, Head Masters, Village Captains (Toshaos) and Justices of the Peace As well as existing ID Cards will not be acceptable as source documents for registration.
The commission urged persons who will be eligible for registration, but are not in possession of the relevant supporting document(s) to take immediate steps to acquire those documents in order to facilitate their registration during the exercise.
The statement said that the registration offices will be open on Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 1pm and from 2:30pm to 6pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm. The offices will be closed on holidays. “It is the civic duty and legal responsibility of all Guyanese who will who meet the eligibility requirements to apply for registration during this Cycle of Continuous Registration.
By so doing, they would be ensuring that they are (i) issued National Identifica-tion Cards and (ii) be included on the official lists of electors for future elections if they meet the eligibility criteria,” Gecom said.
It added that Section 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 makes it obligatory for persons who meet the registration criteria to apply for registration.
Persons eligible for registration could be prosecuted, fined and/or even sent to prison for failing or refusing to apply for registration, the commission pointed out.
