The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday discussed a controversial appeal by PNCR Chair Volda Lawrence for supporters to gather outside polling stations but arrived at no decision.
Meanwhile, Government-nominated member of GECOM, Vincent Alexander has dismissed complaints on the matter from the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as “silly season mischief”.
In a letter to the Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh, the PPP/C has said it was “gravely disturbed” by APNU+AFC leaders urging their supporters to “assemble in large numbers at Polling places at the close of polls to protect their ballot.” The letter signed by executive member Anil Nandlall asked that the Commission publicly denounce statements of the type referenced and reassure the electorate that the Commission will not tolerate assembly of persons on or around places of poll during or after polling.
Specifically identified was PNCR Chairman Lawrence who is quoted as telling supporters to return at 6pm for a night shift of watching the ballot box.
Justice Singh acknowledged receipt of the letter and informed Nandlall that its contents will be discussed at the commission’s next meeting scheduled for yesterday. Alexander noted that while it was an agenda item there was no decision reached by the commission since they could not agree on a position.
“It’s a matter we just didn’t make a decision on,” he stressed adding that he does not feel that statements made were “a call to violence”.
“In this country historically people have assembled at the polling place. [Lawrence] has called for nothing different from what has happened in the past. There is the contention that when (Cheddi) Jagan did it and he did do it, it was because they were having ballot boxes with ballots not yet counted transported from one place to another, so in other words the people had a right then to assemble, but we have situations in the recent past where ballots boxes have been sealed, the contents signed off on and when you get to another place somebody said they want a recount so there is a still question of security of the ballot box,” Alexander contended.
He maintained that once the people are not violent they are free to congregate and observe the process.
“The 200 yards does not restrict people from getting close to a polling station. That 200 yards is about campaigning,” he contended while arguing that the complaint is silly season mischief rather than a genuine attempt to help the matter along.
According to the Representation of the People Act it is unlawful while within a distance of 200 yards of a polling place to annoy, molest or otherwise interfere with an elector or attempt to obtain any information as to the list of candidates for whom any elector in the polling place is about to vote or has voted either on his own behalf or as a proxy on behalf of another elector.
Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of sixty-five thousand dollars and to imprisonment for six months.
The provision also states that any unauthorized person who obstructs or interferes with access to, or egress from, a polling place or the movement of documents, supplies and other material pertaining to an election, including ballot boxes and ballot papers shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $65,000 together with imprisonment for a term of one year and shall, in addition, be incapable during a period of five years from the date of conviction of participating in an election either as a voter or candidate.
Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield has already indicated that the secretariat will remind party agents of these provisions.
“At our engagements with the representatives ……primarily with the agents of the respective parties those matters will be addressed in a definitive manner,” Lowenfield said while delivering his presentation at the media training on elections held by the Guyana Press Association (GPA) in collaboration with Guyana Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).
