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GECOM brushing aside legitimate concerns – PPP
By Abena Rockcliffe
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says that it has been verbally attacked by Chairman of the Guyana Elections
PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee
Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally, as a result of the Party’s expression of legitimate concerns on elections issues.
This assertion was expressed by General Secretary Clement Rohee, who said that the problems the Party raised, if resolved, will pave the way for free and fair elections in Guyana.
Rohee made those remarks on Monday as he hosted his weekly press conference at Freedom House.
The General Secretary said that over the past few months, the PPP has had cause to write GECOM on a number of discrepancies which were unearthed by Party activists and supporters as they conducted field work. He said that instead of focusing on the concerns and “loopholes” that exist, “Dr. Surujbally is taking the approach to brush aside issues of concern and issuing statements full of rhetoric.”
The politician did not give examples of such statements made by Surujbally, but reiterated his Party’s position that no stone will be left unturned to remove any impediment obstructing free and fair elections.
He said that the PPP will strive to ensure that proper mechanisms are in place so that no eligible Guyanese will be disenfranchised.
“Our representations to GECOM should not be viewed as a loss of confidence in GECOM but rather as the fulfilling of our responsibility to our constituencies and as a major political stakeholder in Guyana’s future,” said Rohee.
The General Secretary pointed out that PPP had called for an extension to the Sixth Cycle of Continuous Registration and made representations to GECOM as regards its concerns. Rohee said that the Party also requested an extension of the last Claims and Objections Period after field work indicated that many were still to conduct transfers, secure source documents and be registered.
“The Party therefore, calls on GECOM to conduct another cycle of continuous registration so that those persons who have not done so as yet can be registered,” said Rohee.
GECOM Chairman, Steve Surujbally
The General Secretary, who also sits in the National Assembly as the Minister of Home Affairs, said that the PPP noted the opposition’s refusal to meet with government, as well as the insistence to go back to Parliament to pass the Alliance For Change-sponsored No Confidence Motion.
He said that with the possibilities of an early election being held, the PPP urges GECOM to “get its act together and be prepared for any eventuality…The Party has already voiced its concerns over the transparency of GECOM’s recruitment policy as well as its training of polling day staff. We understood that many young educated persons are coming forward and indicating that they have applied, but never received a response from GECOM. Nevertheless, the nation was awakened to learn that GECOM has already begun training polling day staff.”
Rohee said that the Party has noted the re-advertisement for these positions and hopes that a more open and transparent process to shortlist and recruit elections day staff will be used so that the electoral machinery can be outfitted with suitably qualified and competent persons.
Rohee then called on GECOM to launch a countrywide voter education programme. He said that the large amount of spoiled and rejected ballots recorded in the 2011 elections is a reflection that populace needs proper voter education, especially in the rural, hinterland and riverain communities. The education programme, Rohee charged, must indicate to Guyanese the importance of voting and making a contribution to Guyana’s continued development.
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