Although over $1 billion has been earmarked for the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE) later this year, the budget does not cater for a new voters’ list as no decision has been taken by the Guyana Elections Commission, Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira announced yesterday.
During the consideration of the $4.1 billion allocation for GECOM by the Committee of Supply, Teixeira explained that the money set aside for holding of the delayed polls was not a “lump sum” but rather was spread across line items.
She explained that while the $783 million will be spent on covering expenses such as training, advertisements, printing of election day materials, and renting of containers, among other things, some $583 million has also been budgeted under the line item of Wages and Salaries to pay close to 10,000 temporary elections day staff.
As the allocation was scrutinised, APNU+AFC Member David Patterson questioned whether any provision was made to remedy concerns about the bloated national voters’ list.
Responding to the query, the Minister said that it was not a budgetary issue and it would be up to the GECOM Chairperson Claudette Singh and Commissioners to make such decision. “This is not a budgetary issue, but it is an issue that the commission and chairman have to make a decision on and if they so desire then budgetary matters will fall into place. However, at this point, there is no decision by the Commission to have, as the opposition say, a new voters’ list,” she said.
Further questioned on why no allocation was made for a new list, she pointed out, “They [GECOM] cannot budget for that because no decision has been made in the kind of details that the honourable member [Patterson] wants. What they have done is budget for the current normal situations with continued registrations.”
Patterson told the Committee of Supply that the abrupt conclusion of the House-to House registration process has left an estimated 20,000 persons off the national voter’s list. It is on this basis that he pressed the minister on the fate of those potential voters and whether they will disenfranchised.
She nonetheless indicated that provisions have been made for the continuous registration and claims and objections and suggested persons use that opportunity to get on the list.
As the opposition member quizzed further on when it was likely that LGE will be held, the minister responded by saying “as far as I know, in terms of the meeting with GECOM and in terms of the press reports… they have not reach that stage, Sir, to say what quarter of the year they would be willing to commence.”
She posited that “GECOM has stated that they are preparing a roadmap which will go to the Commission and the Commission will make the determination on when they would be ready and inform the President of their readiness.”
The total allocation was eventually approved.
The LGE polls were due last year but were not held due to GECOM being not in a state of readiness owing to key vacancies, including that of Chief Election Officer. That vacancy has since been filled. Other key positions such as Deputy Chief Election Officer, Assistant Chief Elections Officer, Chief Accountant, Legal Officer, Logistics Manager, Civic and Voter Education Manager are still to be filled.
Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall last week told the National Assembly during his contribution to the budget debate that the polls would be held this year.
Moreover, under the agency’s capital budget, Minister Teixeira said construction works to the tune of $120 million will be spent on the Port Kaituma office, GECOM’s boat house, land transportation, purchasing of boat engines, storage drawers, printers, dual purpose photocopiers, projectors, and containers, among other items.
