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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday April 14, 2015
Further political GECOM meets coalitions possible with Carter until Thursday Centre reps
EIGHT political parties in the 2015 General and Regional Elections race have qualified as contenders, according to the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield. The parties submitting their National Top-up List, Geographical Constituencies List, and Regional Democratic Council Lists include: The United Force (TUF); the Healing The Nation Theocracy Party (HTNT); the United Republican Party (URP); the Independent Party (IP); the Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP); and the National Independence Party (NIP). The two major political contenders are the incumbent People’s Progressive
Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). The CEO said, in an invited comment, that the Commission approved the lists of candidates submitted by the parties on Nomination Day, April 7. However, Lowenfield highlighted that the eight contenders have until Thursday to collaborate into political coalitions that will contest the regional and/or national elections. According to him, the Elections Commission is required to gazette the approved lists of candidates by the 25th day before Elections Day – given that E-Day is May 11th that would mean that the cut-off for further political coalition
agreements to be made is April 16th. The next step, Lowenfield added, is the publication of the final lists of candidates. GECOM has until the 20th day before E-Day to do this. In accordance with the electoral system of Proportional Representation, in order to qualify for a seat in the National Assembly, contesting parties must contest a minimum of six of the Geographical Constituencies - totalling at least 13 seats - for eligibility to contest and submit Geographical Constituencies Lists and National Top-up Lists. This arrangement will provide for qualified contesting parties to submit, on Nomination Day, two separate Lists of Candidates. Any political party can contest the election of members of any of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils. (Vanessa Narine)
Members of the Carter Centre during their meeting with GECOM Chairman (right) Dr. Steve Surujbally
WITH less than a month left for the General and Regional Elections, the US-based Carter Centre is progressively establishing its presence in Guyana. A precursor team of medium-term observers visited the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Friday last to meet with Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, to discuss the strategic directions of their Observer Mission. Team Leader and Assistant Director, Global Development Initiative, Mr. Jason Calder indicated that the Carter Centre may be looking to establish a core medium observer team of four persons to lead its Mission. He further stated that the Carter Centre plans to have six medium-term observers comprising three teams of two persons each which can be deployed by next Wednesday. The Carter Centre is expected to have at least 30 short-term observers deployed closer to the Election Day. A total of 42 persons are expected to complete the Carter Centre’s Observer Mission. Mr. Calder also discussed a preliminary lo-
The GECOM Chairman also asked the Carter Centre to agitate for peace and serenity before, during and after the Elections, and to help explain to the public the need for calm as citizens await the final official results. He further emphasised that GECOM will not be sacrificing accuracy for expediency when it comes to the delivery of the election results. gistical plan for the three medium-term observer teams which is as follows: (a) One team to cover Regions 2, 3, and 7; (b) another team will cover Regions 5 and 6; and the other team to cover Regions 1, 8, and 9. GECOM’s Chairman, Dr. Surujbally expressed his satisfaction that the Carter Centre has once again taken a keen interest in observing elections in Guyana. Dr. Surujbally also gave a commitment to the Carter Centre representatives that GECOM will assist the team in whatever information requirements they may need. He also advised the Carter Centre representatives to send all plans and other training materials they intend to use, during their Election Observer Mission, to GECOM so that those materials can be
assessed by GECOM for accuracy and completeness. PEACE AND SERENITY The GECOM Chairman also asked the Carter Centre to agitate for peace and serenity before, during and after the Elections, and to help explain to the public the need for calm as citizens await the final official results. He further emphasised that GECOM will not be sacrificing accuracy for expediency when it comes to the delivery of the election results. Representing the Carter Centre was Mr. Jason Calder, Assistant Director, Global Development Initiative and Mr. Pedro Teixeira, Operations Manager. GECOM was represented by its Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Francois.