Concerns by the opposition about what it believes is the premature publishing of the Preliminary List of Electors by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will be raised at the body’s statutory meeting tomorrow, Opposition Commissioner Vincent Alexander has said.
“We know we have to advertise for claims and objections but the wording went beyond what should have been advertised and what should have been approved. This will be raised next Tuesday when we meet, for discussion…,” Alexander told the Stabroek News.
“We know of the list but we do not know that GECOM has put all the processes in place for an election. Something is amiss for the Chief Election Officer to say that we are initiating the processes for elections…,” he added.
The notice was signed by Chairman of GECOM retired Justice Claudette Singh and not Chief Election Officer Vishnu Persaud.
As it readies its elections machinery, GECOM last week gave notice, under the National Registration Act and the National Registration (Residents) Regulations for publication of the Preliminary List of Electors and Claims and Objections dates and processes.
“Pursuant to section 15(L) of the National Registration Act, the Elections Commission appoints the buildings identified in Schedule 2 as the buildings on which shall be affixed the preliminary list of electors prepared by the Commissioner of Registration under section 14(1) (a) of the National Registration Act,” a notice from GECOM in the Sunday June 23 edition of the Stabroek News read.
“Pursuant to section 15(2) of the Act and the Regulations made thereunder, claims and objections, to facilitate the production of revised lists of electors for the registration divisions in each of the registration divisions in each of the Registration Areas set out in Schedule 1, may be made in respect of the entries on the list referenced in paragraph 1 above: (a) with respect to the qualifying date of 30 June 2024, in accordance with sections 6(A)((a) and 14(1)(a) of the Act, and (b) in accordance with the timelines specified in Schedule 3 and the times specified in paragraph 3 below,” it added.
The Stabroek News reached out to the Chief Elections Officer but repeated calls to his number went unanswered. While messages to his WhatsApp were delivered, he did not reply.
GECOM said that the official hours for the Claims and Objections exercise are at Registration Offices – Monday to Friday from 08:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs.
According to Schedule 3, the day by which the Commissioner of Registration and the Registration Officers shall publish and affix to buildings the Preliminary List of Electors is 25th June, 2024.
The days on which claims in respect of entries in the Preliminary List shall be tendered to the Registration Officer of each Registration Area so as to be received by him/her are 2nd July 2024 to 15th July 2024 (inclusive).
The days on which objections may be tendered to the Registration Officer of the Registration Area against the inclusion of names on the Preliminary List are 2nd July 2024 to 22nđ July 2024 (inclusive).
Moreover, the day by which the Registration Officers shall begin to hear and determine objections and appeals will be 5th July 2024.
The ad said applications may be made by persons whose names appear in the Preliminary List for change and correction of particulars as shown in the List and effect transfers from one Registration District/Division/Sub-Division to another from July 2nd 2024 to 15th July 2024 (inclusive).
All forms of claims, objections and applications, and decisions made thereon, shall be sent by the Registration Officers to the Commissioner of Registration by 25th July, 2024, the ad stated adding that this period will end on August 7th 2024.
Alexander said that when he saw the notice, he found it concerning that though no date for elections has been announced as yet, GECOM would publish preliminary voter’s list.
“GECOM has a system of continuous registration claims and objections … no date has been announced for elections so they can’t start the processes for elections. All we can do is continue the routine process of having an updated voter’s list,” he said.
