Political activist Mark Benschop, who has indicated his intention to contest for a seat on the Georgetown city council at the March 18 local government elections, says “inefficiencies” at the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) are stymieing his campaign.
Speaking with Stabroek News, Benschop said although his team submitted their proposed symbol for the elections for Gecom’s approval more than two weeks before the deadline of January 5, they are still to receive any communication from Gecom beyond a letter acknowledging receipt of its submission.
“We have heard nothing and when you call, you are told that the commissioners are on recess. Why is it that they are on recess in the middle of an election,” Benschop questioned.
He asserted that there should have been a system in place for an immediate or near immediate response to symbol applications as an approved symbol is essential to the branding of campaign material and developing recognition among voters.
Benschop was particularly concerned about the possibility that his team’s symbol may be rejected. “If they say ‘no your symbol is not approved,’ then you have to make corrections and the time is drawing ever closer for both nomination day and the elections,” Benschop said.
Benschop is also concerned about Gecom’s leadership. The commission is headed by a Chairman and six commissioners. Presently, three of those commissioners are nominated by the opposition PPP/C while three are from the ruling APNU+AFC. According to the candidate, the absence of smaller parties from the commission leaves them vulnerable to frustration as the commissioners’ will push the agenda of their respective party to the detriment of the smaller parties.
Benschop and team intend to contest for seats in all 15 constituencies of the Georgetown municipality. Hoping to qualify as a voluntary group, the team submitted its symbol on December 12 to Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield.
According to Benschop, the group’s proposed symbol and slogan represents the energy they intend to bring to the management of the city and the relationship they hope to have with the people of Georgetown.
Up to Thursday, Gecom was reviewing over 100 symbols submitted for approval by political parties, voluntary groups and individual candidates wishing to contest the polls, which have not been held since 1994.
Gecom will now have two weeks to either approve or reject the symbols that were submitted and Deputy Chief Election Officer Vishnu Persaud had told Stabroek News that Gecom did not envisage that any symbols would be rejected but noted that a determination would be made by the commission within the 14-day period. The commission will also have the authority to decide the grace period should any symbols be rejected, for resubmission.
Nomination Day for the polls is Tuesday, January 26, 2016. Any List of Candidates submitted by any political party, voluntary group or individual candidates on Nomination Day without the required pre-approved symbol will be deemed defective.
