Dear Editor,
The accuracy of the current list of electors raises several concerns. The current list of electors shows that 76% of the total population of Guyana can now vote! It would be irresponsible for citizens, party leaders and civic society not to voice alarm and concern.
Gecom Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally, answering recent questions about the accuracy of the list by APNU+AFC leader Brig (rtd) David Granger, said that he had already explained the jump of nearly 95,000 new electors since 2011’s list. Dr Surujbally has stated that the increase can be explained by citizens who have died and emigrated since the 2011 list was finalized. That is not acceptable. Dr Surujbally also said that citizens had returned from abroad, registered, then returned overseas. He also stated that the increase in voter registrations included a sizable number of young people who became eligible to vote since 2011.
While Dr Surujbally’s explanations may seem reasonable to some, shouldn’t these factors also have affected the lists for 2011, 2006, and 2001? How does one explain the net reduction of about 16,000 voters for the 2011 list compared to the 2006 list, versus the surge of about 95,000 voters for the 2015 list versus 2011? For context, in 2001, the list of electors was 59% of the population (2002 census). In 2006, the list represented 68% of the population (2012 census). In 2011, the list reflected 63% of the population (2012 census). Surely, it is not therefore unreasonable for citizens to be concerned about a 2015 list that reflects 76% of the population (also 2012 census), especially when population distribution information from the cia.gov website, for example, suggests that Guyana’s voting age population is around 65% of the population, maximum? Editor, I respectfully ask Dr Surujbally to indulge these questions and concerns because, as stated by most commentators, the population is decreasing. Also, even though a number of young citizens may have become recently eligible to vote, members of that group are also affected by emigration, premature death, and political apathy. So, why should one assume that 100% of these newly qualified citizens would register to vote?
Finally, it would be helpful for the Bureau of Statistics to release all of the census statistics including data on the age distribution of the population, the ethnic makeup of our population, and all of the variables which were released in the 2002 census so that Guyanese citizens would have a reasonable understanding of the changes taking place in our country. Tax dollars paid for the census, and taxpayers are entitled to see the work for which they have paid. Having those data in the public domain would help to answer questions about these issues.
Yours faithfully,
Karen Abrams,
Director
Human Equity Ratings Organization, Inc
