The Guyana Elections Commission’s (Gecom) fourth cycle of continuous registration began yesterday and will end on May 18.
A release from Gecom said that anyone who will be 14 years or older by June 30, 2013, and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalisation, or is a citizen of a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, is eligible for registration.
Eligible persons are required to visit the registration office that is responsible for their areas of residence. There are 27 permanent offices across Guyana and 49 temporary ones have been established across the ten administrative regions for this fourth cycle.
The release stated that the official working hours of the permanent registration offices are: Monday to Friday – 09:00 hrs to 13:00 hrs and 14:30 hrs to 18:00 hrs and on Saturday – 10:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs, while the temporary offices will operate from Monday to Friday – 15:30 hrs to 19:00 hrs and on Saturday – 10:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs. The offices will not operate on Sundays and national holidays.
During this current exercise, persons who are already registered could apply for a name change if they have changed their name(s) by marriage or Deed Poll since they were registered, or for correction(s) if there is incorrect information on their National ID card.
Additionally, persons could request that their photographs be retaken if the quality of the photograph on their ID card is unacceptable; or collect their new ID cards if they have not done so as yet.
Applicants must have:
i Original birth certificate issued by the General Register Office or a valid Guyana passport
ii Original marriage certificate, and original birth certificate – in the case of a name change by way of marriage, or valid passport that was issued in the married name of the person applying for registration
iii Original deed poll and original birth certificate – in the case of any change of name by deed poll
iv Original naturalisation certificate issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and original birth certificate/valid passport – in the case of naturalisation.
Only the documents listed above will be accepted.
The release referred to Section 6 (5) of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 which makes it compulsory for persons who meet the registration criteria to apply for registration. Further, Section 6 (6) of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 provides that persons eligible for registration could be prosecuted, fined or even sent to prison for failing or refusing to apply for registration. In this regard, it must be noted that it is the responsibility of parents/guardians to ensure that the eligible children in their charge, apply for registration.
The release concludes that “it is the civic duty of all Guyanese who meet the eligibility requirements to apply for registration during this fourth cycle of continuous registration. By so doing, they would (i) be taking the required step towards being issued a national identification card upon completion of the registration process, and (ii) be included in the Official Lists of Electors for future elections, if they meet the other eligibility criteria.”
