GECOM continues to afford equal access and opportunities to all eligible persons to participate in the registration exercises

Jan 16, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has noted the contents of a letter written by Shamshun Mohamed and published in the media titled, “GECOM addressed document to a person they knew was dead.”

It is appreciative and commendable that the author has capitalised on the opportunity to submit an objection during this Claims and Objections Exercise which is intended to produce an Official List of Electors (OLE). It is equally important to note that the query by the author as to “how could GECOM address a document to a non-existent person when GECOM is fully aware that the person has died, having been presented with evidential facts” is a noteworthy observation and therefore it is our responsibility to provide clarity in this regard.

The conduct of Claims and Objections is guided by the relevant provisions in the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08. More specifically, in the interest of transparency and due process, Regulations 27-38 of the National Registration (Residents) Regulations stipulate for an enquiry into all objections, including the process that must be followed. In this regard, it is essential to note that Regulation 27(c & d) of the National Registration (Residents) Regulations stipulates that, in the case of an objection, a notice of a public enquiry must be given to “the claimant or other person to whom the entry objected to relates, and to the divisional registrar who prepares the registration card of such other person (if any); and to the claimant or objector, as the case may be.” The “other person” in this case refers to the objectee.

Further, Regulation 27 (2) also stipulates that “a notice under paragraph (1) to a party shall be given in Form 11 no less than two days before such day as shall be fixed for enquiry into the claim or objection, as the case may be without prejudice to the registrar’s power to adjourn the enquiry as he thinks fit; and any such notice may be given to a party by sending it by registered post to his last known address.” Evidently, the document received by the author was in keeping with what is mandated by law in the interest of transparency and due process.

Notwithstanding Ms. Mohamed presented a death certificate to the registration staff at the time of making the objection, due process required that notification be sent to the objectee, which is what was properly done. The Death Certificate that was submitted, will be given due consideration at the hearing of the objection at which point the objector will be given the opportunity to be heard in the presence of Scrutineers of the Governing Party and the Combined Parties in Parliament. It is at this point that the death certificate will be considered as the lawful instrument to determine the validity of the case along with the non-appearance of the person being objected to. It is important to emphasize that the removal of any name from future Official List of Electors, on the basis of an objection, must be done in accordance with the law to avoid unlawful removal of a registrant.

The Guyana Elections Commission continues to afford equal access and opportunities to all eligible persons to participate in the registration exercises in accordance with the legal and procedural requirements in a transparent and professional manner.

Sincerely,

Ms. Yolanda Ward

Public Relations Officer

Guyana Elections Commission

Guyana Elections Commission, Ms. Yolanda Ward, Public Relations Officer

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