The PPP today said that it was dissatisfied with a meeting it held with the Guyana Elections Commission on Tuesday as only one of eight matters raised was addressed satisfactorily,
The PPP press release follows:
A delegation representing the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) led by its General Secretary, Clement Rohee, met with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday, November 3, 2015.
The PPP delegation informed GECOM about its reservations and concerns as regards the following issues relative to the holding of local government elections:
- The qualifying date of February 29, 2016.
- The period for Claims and Objections versus a 9th cycle of continuous registration.
- The non-availability of lists for each constituency for use during the Claims and Objections period.
- The listed number of registered voters in each constituency and municipality.
- The non-availability of sketch maps showing each constituency with clear lines of demarcation.
- Voters education
- Status of preparation of NDC’s for local government elections.
- Voting by the Disciplined Services.
Of the eight (8) issues raised only one was addressed to the satisfaction of the PPP delegation.
The prevailing attitude of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) throughout the meeting was characterized by indifference, being defensive and evasive in respect to questions and clarifications sought by the delegation.
Moreover, whatever “clarifications” offered by the Chairman and the CEO the reality is that they were already in the public domain and consequently, did not add anything new to what was already known by the PPP insofar as the holding of local government elections is concerned.
In the circumstances, the PPP delegation was disappointed with the answers provided particularly as regards the demarcation of boundaries, and the re-employment of persons as election officials who are known party activists belonging to the PNC/APNU/AFC.
Also, the PPP delegation expressed its dissatisfaction with GECOM’s public relations activities in connection with the holding of local government elections and advised that were the elections to be held in March of 2016 it would be competing with a host of other national events that are likely to be held around the same period and therefore the need for GECOM to put its messages out early to the electors.
The PPP delegation informed the Commission that it was leaving the meeting dissatisfied with the attitude of non-cooperation and non-disclosure towards the delegation.
The delegation expressed the view that GECOM will end up being its own worst enemy since it refuses to address comprehensively and objectively the reservations and concerns of a major national stakeholder with thirty-two (32) seats in the National Assembly and that controls seven (7) of the ten (10) administrative Regions.
The predisposition of the Chairman and CEO of GECOM to clam up and to skillfully dodge questions posed to them by the PPP delegation will only prove counter-productive and help exacerbate the already existing tension between the PPP and GECOM as well as the deep suspicions by the PPP about GECOM’s incompetence, bias and inability to supervise the holding of free and fair elections in Guyana.
The PPP rejects GECOM’s claim that meeting the “completely addressed” the Party’s concerns and reservations in connection with the upcoming local government elections.
The PPP will continue to press its demands for electoral reforms and for free and fair elections by mobilizing public opinion at home and abroad and above all, through the mobilization of its members and supporters.
