GECOM on track for 2020 polls
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, December 18, 2019
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said on Wednesday that it is well on track for the hosting of General and Regional Elections on March 2, next year.
Preparatory works for the upcoming poll include continuous engagements with stakeholders and the utilisation of technical advisors.
GECOM Chair, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh
At its monthly press conference on Wednesday, Chair of the elections body, retired Justice Claudette Singh assured that everything is on schedule.
“We are moving. Our work plan is on track despite what you might hear otherwise. We are on track for the conduct of elections on the second of March 2020”
Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield said the commission is in the preparation phase of the printing of the Revised List of Electors (RLE), which will get underway as soon as data from the new House to House verification process, and the recently concluded Claims and Objections exercises are received.
GECOM’s CEO, Keith Lowenfield.
The Commission gave the go-ahead for a five-day exercise to be conducted to ascertain the whereabouts of over 16,000 new registrants.
According to Lowenfield during the life of that RLE, the commission will also move towards the conduct of nomination day activities.
He said the commission is still to decide on the accreditation of local observers for the elections.
“I’ve been advised that all civil society groups who have an interest should indicate their willingness to be local observers and submit to us in writing before December 31 so that when the commission sits to deliberate, all interested parties will be in that submission.”
With assistance from the United States (US) embassy here, the commission will also be utilising the services of the International Republican Institute, which will be providing technical support on voter education.
Two officials from Ghana and India and another from Canada will be providing technical support to the commission.