APNU supporters picket Linden’s GECOM office ...says no registration no election

APNU supporters picket Linden’s GECOM office …says no registration no election

Feb 08, 2019 News

Several APNU supporters yesterday took to the streets to picket the Linden GECOM office on Republic Avenue.
Defying the scorching midday sun, the protesters chanted “No registration, no election!
The placard bearing protesters drew attention to the issue of persons, especially youths, who would be denied the opportunity to vote, if new registration is not done.
APNU Party Chairman, Jermaine Figuiera, in an invited comment, said that house-to-house registration is of paramount importance and should be a priority.
“This very exercise is being done in the Capital City by the Government and supporters….We are of the firm conviction that house-to-house registration should be paramount before this elections.
“It is due every seven years. It was an agreement by the Commission for house-to-house registration to be done, and that had not been done when the seventh year passed… and I believe we’re in the ninth year.”
Figuiera added that this year’s budget would have catered for house-to-house registration, and that when the motion was tabled in the House, the opposition did not object to the amount of money that was allocated for it.
He further expressed the belief that the present voters’ list is somewhat “tainted,’ as many persons names that are still on the list have died–some for over ten years…. And on top of that, some persons that are now eligible, their names are not on the list.

The demonstration at the GECOM office, Linden yesterday.

Figuiera further emphasized that the budget catered for house-to-house registration, the opposition should respect that, and let GECOM do their job, as there is money allocated to facilitate same.
“It’s only six months, so why deny the youthful population, who are the majority of the voting demographic, the opportunity to exercise their franchise? We are saying that house-to-house registration provides the opportunity for all Guyanese who are of voting age, to be given the opportunity to exercise their franchise!”
Trade unionist, Leslie Gonsalez, said that the issue is more than the no confidence vote, “It is the issue of house to house registration.
We are saying that if you’re talking free and fair elections, there must be house-to-house registration!”
Gonzalez also alluded to the issue of dead persons’ names still being on the list. He said that if there is no new registration, then room would be left for corruption.
Henry Marks noted, “We need everybody to get a chance to vote, and in order for that to happen, we need house-to-house!”
Several other youths who participated in the vociferous protest, under the watchful eyes of police ranks, also reiterated the call for house-to-house registration. They stressed that by so doing, they will be afforded the opportunity to vote, some of them for the first time.

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