Local Government Elections is today

Jun 12, 2023 News

– GECOM anticipates smooth voting process

The headquarters of GECOM in Kingston

Kaieteur News – Local Government Elections (LGE) is today. These elections are deemed a high priority for citizens of our country, as it stipulates governance and policies at the local democratic or “grass root” level. These elections will pave the way the appointment of newly elected councillors for the 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and 6 Municipalities countrywide

Last Friday, officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) announced that the ballot boxes have been packed, and containers dispatched for the smooth conduct of the LGE. The polls across the country will open at 6:00am and close at 6:00pm.

As part of the preparatory process, GECOM accredited 10 groups as local observers of the LGE.

GECOM has expressed confidence that this year’s Local Government Elections (LGE) will be held in accordance with the law, and a number of mechanisms are in place to ensure that this happens.

Chairperson of the commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, made the disclosure at a press conference held at GECOM’s Command Centre, Fort and Barrack Streets, Kingston, Georgetown.

“A lot of preparation was done, the staff was well trained… and I am confident that everything will go very smoothly,” she said.

Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud, mirrored these sentiments, noting that GECOM has a cohesive team, which is focused and committed to acting within the parameters of their responsibilities towards the efficient, effective, and satisfactory delivery of their functions.

“We had a lengthy registration exercise, we had claims and objections exercises, the preparatory exercises for LGE, and as CEO, I have no reason to fear or worry that we will have any type of undermining of the operations of the secretariat in so far as the proper conduct of the elections are concerned,” he expressed.

Meanwhile, Deputy CEO, Aneal Giddings, who led the logistics operations during the 2020 General Elections, said previous elections exercises—most notably, the 2020 General Elections and 2018 LGE— have served as a compendium of lessons on what areas need improvement moving forward.

“We would have made some operational adjustments to how we do things, to ensure that we avoid any untoward situation that may have occurred in the past, and to increase efficiency. So… we are ahead of the game,” he assured.