The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has decided to embark on a new cycle of registration on December 1st and this has attracted the ire of the main opposition APNU which sees it as a tactic by the ruling PPP/C to delay general elections.
GECOM in a statement today responding to statements by PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee said that at a statutory meeting “weeks ago” it had decided that a new Continuous Registration exercise should be undertaken.
“GECOM is fully prepared to start the seventh cycle of continuous registration on Monday December 1, 2014 where persons 14 years or older on a date to be prescribed by GECOM may get registered at the closest GECOM registration office in their area. Guyanese, by place of birth, descent, naturalization or Certificate of Registration, as well as, citizens of Commonwealth countries who are legally resident in Guyana for a period of no less than one year preceding the qualifying date, are also eligible to be registered during the upcoming seventh cycle of Continuous Registration”, the statement said.
It is unclear whether the decision to hold a new registration cycle was a unanimous decision by GECOM or by a majority vote. However, considering that the sixth cycle of continuous registration was held only in March this year, PPP/C critics will see it as another of a series of tactics at delaying general elections, the most recent being the prorogation of Parliament.
Observers note that a new cycle of registration could see appeals by the PPP/C for extensions to the period and other demands.
APNU was incensed by today’s decision.
A statement from the coalition said:
APNU’s Chief Scrutineer Ms. Amna Ally, M.P., (was) summoned to a meeting at GECOM this morning, Friday 21st November, 2014 at 10:00 hours.
It is very clear that GECOM, supposedly an independent body has responded to the PPP/C call for a 7th Cycle of Registration.
APNU vehemently rejects this call and calls on the Government to stop the quest for buying time and hold General Elections now.
With the release of the Official list of Electors, Guyana is ready for elections since this is the roll that is needed to hold any General Elections.
Therefore, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) calls on GECOM to establish its readiness for elections. APNU also wish to call on the Government to use the present OLE and let us go to the polls.
