GECOM should focus on swift holding of Local Gov’t Elections

Dear Editor, OUR citizens’ patience has been stretched and tested in anticipation of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) hosting of the outstanding LGEs. One should not expect that such tolerance will be indeterminately elastic. By now it is recognised that the delaying strategies of opposition forces will not stop, and every excuse will lead to another frustrating suppression.

The PPP/C government has since provided critical resources to complement each year of hopeful promise, and GECOM is now expected to deliver and remove the stymieing of benefits to our citizens. The government’s recent 2023 budget, generously recommends financial allocations of G$5.2 billion for the use of GECOM. Notably, these provisions come into play following significant allocations since 2021 when G$1.8 billion was pro- vided, followed by a revised G$2.9 billion in 2022.

Understandably, the March 2020 debacle concerning the abusive attempt to steal power by opposition forces at the General and Regional Elections, informed necessary adjustments to the abused controls. But have not been to the extent that the necessary remedial position cannot be put in place to deliver the LGEs promised in 2021, 2022, and now 2023.

The LGEs was last held in 2018, highlighting the way overdue timeline on the legal schedule. While these elections cannot supersede priority over any General and Regional elections call, the overwhelming, flimsy excuses from the opposition lack the potency of any significant reasons for further delays. Of note, GECOM has followed the legal framework for preparation of the list of voters, and we must have the elections now.

The Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh must assert herself and not allow any commissioner to frustrate the work of the commission. It is indeed heartening to read and hear that the commission adopted the report from the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) confirming changes to some constituency boundaries.

There is now a more representative position in many Local Authority Areas which takes into consideration population shifts influenced by the PPP/C’s massive housing drive, and corrects previous deliberate gerrymandering designed at providing the opposition specific advantages. Consequently, the commission through its secretariat would be in an enabled position to prepare an updated register of voters in the respective Local Authority Areas.

The ongoing continuous registration process comes after a previously announced and again delayed LGEs date set for March this year. The process, however, will allow GECOM to have all the relevant information that would be up to date to a determined cut-off point. It follows that with a short period of Claims and Objections, preparation of the register of voters will be completed. Once achieved, the CEO is required to present the updated voters list to the commission for ratification, enabling the chairperson of the commission to write the Minister of Local Government expressing GECOM’s readiness for the holding of the LGEs.

Further, it is applaudable that over the past months, GECOM utilized provided taxpayers’ resources, to train identified persons who are expected to work at the LGEs. The utilised expenditures cannot be allowed to be defused uselessly, at the expense of necessitating a full set of training. In this respect, there are national expectations that the CEO will now move swiftly to prepare his work plan in preparation for the holding of LGEs at the earliest date.

Editor, there is no doubt that the upcoming local government elections will serve as a reminder of the PPP/C government’s commitment to good governance and transparency across every community, and will provide much-needed renewal to the local government system. With the massive allocation for the holding of LGEs, GECOM must uphold its mandate and hold the elections to strengthen local democracy.

The present process of continuous registration seems to be going smoothly. Both the category ‘A’ and the category ‘B’ citizens are making full use of the opportunity to get registered. The government recognises and delivered on its commitments, and the budget will certainly help to establish a realistic platform to guarantee a better life for our people.

It cannot be denied that the PPP/C government has moved with expedient speed in advancing its committed development agenda while synchronizing the benefits for citizens across a “one Guyana Platform.”

There is also genuine awareness that the opposition cabal will stop at nothing to derail this upward trajectory. Consequently, GECOM must not find itself influenced by the naysayers trying desperately to make our people collateral damage. The commission, led by Retired Justice, Madam Claudette Singh MUST ensure delivery of the organization’s mandate, freely and fairly.

This column calls on GECOM to move the process forward now!

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar