Coalition demonstrates for House to House registration

Jun 22, 2019 News

A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition yesterday staged a demonstration near the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Kingston Headquarters and countrywide,
in advocacy for House to House Registration.

Coalition members and supporters demonstrate countrywide

The demonstrators insisted that elections should not be held until House to House Registration is started and completed. They chanted, “Our youths who turned 18 must vote!” and “Credible registration, Credible Elections!”
Present at the demonstration were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cummings; former Chronicle General Manager, Sherod Duncan; Attorney-at-Law, James Bond; and Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally.In an address to the crowd, Duncan said, “I don’t know what is the input of the CCJ in all of this,” but GECOM should be allowed to act independently.
Kenny Valladares of the Alliance for Change (AFC)’s Youth Arm told Kaieteur News that they are not picketing GECOM, but that they are demonstrating in support of the commission’s independence, and its right to determine when it is ready to hold General and Regional Elections.

Coalition members and supporters demonstrate countrywide

“Every stone must be turned; everything must be done to ensure that the [youth] are included in the elections.” Valladares said.
Since the passage of the No-Confidence Motion, the coalition has contended that young people who recently turned 18 will not be included in the election if there is no House to House Registration.
In an address to the crowd, Duncan said that there are thousands of young people in Guyana who must be registered, and that they will not allow the youth to be disenfranchised.

Coalition members and supporters demonstrate countrywide

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, in response to that contention had said that the situation is not as damning as the coalition has made it out to be. He said that, in late 2018, there was a continuous registration process that added many eligible voters on to the list. He had added that a short period of registration, claims and objections would clear up any loose ends.
But the coalition is adamant that House to House Registration is the only system that could cleanse the list, and ensure credible elections.
Multiple members of the ruling coalition have said that it’s not just young people that must be catered for, but removals of dead persons, address changes, and other issues.
Apart from that, the protestors responded to a statement made by Jagdeo on Thursday, during a press conference. The Opposition Leader had said that that he is ready to cooperate with President David Granger to have a new Chairman appointed quickly to GECOM, since the appointment of retired Justice James Patterson was declared unconstitutional by the Caribbean Court of Justice.
He had also said that he is worried the President could use the selection process for the chairman to delay the elections.
Bond dared Jagdeo. “Prepare the list!”

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