Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) Dr Steve Surujbally has refuted claims by the People’s Progressive Party that 25 cartons of indelible electoral ink has gone missing along with dozens of black tanks.
Surujbally confirmed, however, that there was an ongoing police investigation into missing black tanks, though he could not confirm how many were missing.
On Monday, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee had said that the party had “been reliably informed that 25 cartons of the indelible electoral ink and dozens of black tanks have gone missing or unaccounted for within Gecom.”
Surujbally said while he was aware of the statements made by Rohee during the party’s weekly press briefing on Monday, he did not wish to engage in a public discussion about complaints. He said that if the PPP had issues with Gecom then the party needed to write to him, which was generally what happened, but only after Rohee would have publicised the criticisms.
Surujbally said the fact that the police were investigating the missing items from Gecom should be known to Rohee, who also holds the government portfolio of Minister of Home Affairs.
Gecom’s Chairman said internal reports were also sent to the police and that the PPP should get its facts straight before carelessly releasing inaccurate information.
Rohee had stated that “the Guyana Police Force must be called in to investigate these breaches” and called on Surujbally “to provide to the parties and the public the full details of these breaches of security as well as assurances that appropriate action(s) will be taken against person(s) found to be negligent.”
However, Surujbally said the investigation had commenced over a month ago and that no indelible ink was missing. He also stated that Gecom did not utilise leftover ink for new elections. He noted, too, that indelible ink could be purchased from drug stores across the country.
Observers have noted that the PPP, with its constant criticism of the elections commission, appear-ed to be setting a stage to contest elections results, whether local or general, should they not be in favour of the ruling party.
Meanwhile, Gecom’s Public Relation’s Officer, Richard Francois told Stabroek News that nothing sensitive was missing from Gecom. He said the commission was awaiting the conclusion of the investigation rather than releasing incomplete information.
Stabroek News was made to understand that Gecom has addressed the security issues and has had discussions with its security team. This publication was told that the commission’s security team comprises former police officers.
The PPP has launched attacks on the commission almost weekly and alleges that Gecom is unprepared to hold either local government or general elections; although the commission has repeatedly stated it was ready.
The party had previously alleged that the preliminary voters list was not “clean or acceptable” and that the names of some 2,958 deceased persons were still on it.
Gecom, in a subsequent press briefing on September 4, acknowledged that there were in fact dead persons still on the list including former President Arthur Chung who passed away in 2008. At the briefing participants were told that the removal process was one that required cooperation by the General Register Office (GRO), which falls under the guidance of the Home Affairs Ministry. The GRO would have to notify Gecom of deaths before any names can be removed.
Debunking claims that the list was padded, the Gecom’s Chairman stated that while PPP scrutineers were unable to locate a Prospect, EBD family, Gecom officers were able to make contact with the family by speaking to a neighbour. The family’s house had collapsed and as a result the family was being housed elsewhere.
