Latest update January 11th, 2025 3:29 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

The absence of a fixed date for the elections does not prohibit the GECOM from starting non-statutory preparatory activities

Jan 11, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

Please permit me space in your letter column to given clarity to some misleading matters that were published in the January 8, 2025 edition of the Guyana Times in an article titled “GECOM awaits official date for E-DAY to formally begin preparations – CEO – as over 2800 transactions facilitated during current Claims & Objections period.

The article conveys that “formal preparations remain on hold, with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) awaiting an announcement on a date from President Dr. Irfaan Ali”.

This is ambiguous in relation to the preparation of a workplan (not “war plan”) delineating the statutory activities and their respective enabling administrative tasks for the conduct of the elections.

Such a workplan can be prepared only after the President would have named a date for the conduct of General and Regional Elections this year. However, the absence of a fixed date for the elections does not prohibit the GECOM Secretariat from embarking on the conduct of non-statutory preparatory activities e.g. developing strategies for procurement, Civic and Voter Education and Logistics, and revision of the Manuals in line with the amendments that were made to the Representation of the People Act to be followed by the conduct of training of Management Staff for the elections.

It follows therefore, that there is no issue about GECOM being unable to initiate its official preparations for the elections until the President announces the official date for the hosting of the elections. I have absolutely no idea what is meant by the Commission is yet to “receive the formal mandate to proceed with the necessary groundwork”, and I certainly did not provide any such comment to the reporter who spoke with me over the telephone.

The reporter did ask about critical (her word) preparations, such as the introduction of cameras at polling stations and the use of biometrics. I responded by emphasizing that (i) the issue of biometrics was currently engaging the attention of the Commission, and (ii) discussion on the issue of the introduction of cameras at polling stations had not commenced as yet.

Sincerely,

Vishnu Persaud

Chief Election Officer

(The absence of a fixed date for the elections does not prohibit the GECOM from starting non-statutory preparatory activities)

Similar Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Body of Chinese national who fell from new Demerara River bridge recovered

Body of Chinese national who fell from new Demerara River bridge...

Jan 11, 2025

Kaieteur News- The body of 39-year-old Fu Jian Wei, an employee of China Railway Construction Corporation (International) was recovered from the Demerara River on Friday, the Ministry of Public Works...
Read More
Athanaze posts 98 as Windies start positively in tour match against Pakistan Shaheens

Athanaze posts 98 as Windies start positively in...

Jan 11, 2025

Youngsters seize opportunity, rubbing shoulders with Golden Jags star Omar Glasgow

Youngsters seize opportunity, rubbing shoulders...

Jan 11, 2025

Anderson, Nedd, Lovell hit form as first Harpy Eagles 4-Day practice match bowls 

Anderson, Nedd, Lovell hit form as first Harpy...

Jan 11, 2025

Alvin ‘Geronimo’ Braithwaite to be laid-to-rest January 13

Alvin ‘Geronimo’ Braithwaite to be...

Jan 11, 2025

CFU launches Next Generation Class of 2025 Referees training

CFU launches Next Generation Class of 2025...

Jan 11, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • Dem signs need calibrating

    Dem Boys Seh… Kaieteur News- Dem boys bin pass one of dem fancy speed meter signs wah de guvament put up fuh tell drivers... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]