Difficult to understand why GECOM has not discarded H2H data

Dec 17, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

I observed in another section of the media that GECOM will be moving ahead with the inclusion of the recently halted H2H data in the placing in the voters’ list, WITHOUT VERIFYING THEM, and has further placed the onus of verifying 20,000 new registrants on the PPP. I have previously stated my reservations regarding the predispositions of the chairperson and have long recommended her replacement prior to elections in light of her earlier positions on critical issues relating to the integrity of the voters’ list. This recent announcement further emphasizes the need for a replacement, it does not need to be explained to anyone, or GECOM for that matter, that verification and validation of all data to be included in the national registration database and the list of electors is solely the domain of the office of the GUYANA ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
This aside, it is my contention that the H2H registration recently halted was conducted in violation of the advice of GECOM’s legal advisor and GECOM’s own Guidelines and regulations pertaining to the maintenance of an up-to-date voters’ list. This has provided ample room for data tampering, and without further thought, should be relegated to the dustbin. I propose some issues below to consider relating to the H2H data collection affair:
1. The President went beyond GECOM regulations to unilaterally appoint a chairman.
2. This chairman left instructions dated June 11, 2019 for House-to-house registration, knowing fully well that GECOM’s legal advisor in an opinion dated just prior to May 15, 2019 which advised that such a course would be in violation of GECOM’s regulations. According to Excellence Dazzell, the legal officer at the time: “Based on (elections laws), the list must be updated bi-annually by adding persons who are now qualified to be registered, to that list, and those who are no longer qualified to be registered, to be taken off that list… I therefore advise that procedures be put in place to ensure the revision of the list, otherwise the Commission would be acting in defiance of the law and may prejudice any by-election that may become necessary,” according to another report.
Now why would the chairman out of the blue issue this order for house to house registration, knowing that it contravened the advice of GECOM’s legal advisor and GECOM’s regulations.
Was he requested to leave this order prior to his resignation? Did David Granger or his representatives request the chairman to issue that order prior to his departure? This in and of itself is political interference and prejudices the decisions of GECOM in favour of Granger, if this was indeed the case. Because I am quite sure that no political party would favour GECOM obliging such a request from any other political party.
It is my opinion that the recently collected H2H data should NOT be used under ANY circumstances as a result of the foregoing.
Guyanese are urged to pay more attention to what is transpiring at GECOM, because there continues to be a degree of vacillation and indecision regarding the simple matter of discarding the house to house data that brings into question the ability of the management of GECOM to recognize that their procedures were violated, AND THAT THE RECENTLY HALTED HOUSE TO HOUSE REGISTRATION CONTRAVENED THE ADVICE AND GUIDELINES.

Yours Faithfully,
Craig Sylvester,
Party Leader, Democratic National Congress

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