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Talks underway for C/wealth observer mission
Tafawa Williams and Mark Stevens of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and Dr. Steve Surujbally, Chairman of GECOM.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is engaging the Commonwealth Secretariat over the possibility of an observer group to monitor the upcoming General Elections.
According to GECOM yesterday, key issues associated with the upcoming General and Regional Elections were discussed between Dr. Steve Surujbally, Chairman of the Commission and Mark Stevens, Advisor and Head of the Democracy Section, Political Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The discussions took place at GECOM’s Headquarters when Stevens paid a courtesy call on Surujbally during the former’s recent visit to Guyana.
The diplomat was accompanied by Tafawa Williams, Political Advisor, Caribbean/Pacific Section, Political Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
It was disclosed that the possibility of the Commonwealth Secretariat sending an observer group to monitor the conduct of the upcoming polls and the provision of technical support, including the delegation of a Joint International Technical Assessor (JITA), were among the key issues raised.
The identification of a suitable candidate to be appointed to the position of IT Manager at GECOM was also discussed.
According to GECOM, Stevens was also updated on the body’s state of preparedness for the upcoming elections.
Surujbally “focused primarily on the recently concluded continuous registration exercise and concomitant activities (e.g. Fingerprint Cross matching and the Claims and Objections exercise for the 2011 Elections etc) and which would lead to the production of an impeccable Official List of Electors for the 2011 Elections, and the conduct of the polls in a free, fair and transparent manner,” GECOM said in its statement.
Stevens also “assured Dr. Surujbally” that the Commonwealth Secretariat would continue to support GECOM, as it has done in the past, as part of the Secretariat’s thrust to support democratic processes in Guyana.
Government had indicated that it was preparing for General Elections as early as August.
Both the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the main opposition, People’s National Congress Reform are currently in tight internal talks to choose their Presidential candidates in what is turning out to be one of the most closely watched elections in Guyana.
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