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USAID funds voter education projects

May 28, 2011 News

Promoting democracy and helping countries in the transition stage is a long standing goal of the United States of America. Yesterday, with the provision of two grants USAID through its Governance Enhancement Project contributed to the elections process in Guyana.
“The first grant, valued at US$18,082 is for the Guyana Council of Organizations for People with Disabilities. This grant seeks to provide persons with disabilities and their families with the tools to improve their ability to participate in national elections.
“Persons with disabilities face many challenges in their day-to-day lives, which can lead to a feeling of exclusion,” says Carol Horning, Deputy Chief of Mission and USAID Director.
The project is expected to build awareness of the importance of persons with disabilities participation in the electoral process- as voters or as candidates, thus encouraging persons with disabilities to exercise their voting rights.
Horning said that it will inform people with disabilities of the methods to cast their vote. It will aid in such areas as proxy voting and assistance from a third person in marking their ballot.
All adult age Guyanese must be allowed their constitutional right of voting, however, approximately 70 percent of persons with disabilities does not participate at national and general elections, Leon Walcott, Chairman of Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities stated.
USAID under its Governance Enhancement Project yesterday presented the Council a grant totaling US$18,082. According to Walcott the grant would finance the Council’s vision of sensitizing stakeholders in the necessity to participate in elections, a constitutional right that cannot be taken away.
The chairman noted that it was revealed that many persons with disabilities do not have National Identification Cards and while many are not yet registered to vote.
Meanwhile, the second grant totaling US$17,353 was presented to Merundoi Incorporated. This would allow more focus on behavioral change, and incorporates activities to increase ethnic peace, tolerance and harmony.
“It seeks to combine the use of radio with street theatre and community discussions to increase participation in the election process. It is recognized that once persons have the relevant information they are more likely to make informed decisions. Emphasis will also be placed on young voters and voters with low education levels,” Horning stated.
Executive Director of Merundoi Incorporated, Margaret Lawrence, stated that this grant aid the radio serial drama in achieving its mission statement in terms of governance issues.
It would enable the programme to achieve its goal of “using innovative public education techniques to facilitate positive change to attitudes toward good health, environment, economic, social and governance practices,” Lawrence added.

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