GECOM open to faster transmission of results
– technology not available in all regions
DPI, GUYANA, Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner, Vincent Alexander says while faster relaying of results is important, technology is not always available to allow their full transmission electronically.
“That’s the reality in some parts of the country; telephone still cannot transmit,” he told reporters on Tuesday afternoon in the GECOM compound, High Street, Kingston alluding to international observers having noted in the past that final results in general elections were often delayed for several days creating unnecessary tension.
Commissioner, Charles Corbin added that results at individual polling stations are actually available within communities on the same day, since they are posted outside.
As such Corbin said the media is not prohibited from releasing those tabulations ahead of any official GECOM announcement, “because in the final analysis it is the media we will rely on to ensure the broadest transmission of the results.”
Corbin explained that what is needed centrally is the summary of the ten declarations from the administrative regions. He pointed out that persons contesting those declarations are always given the opportunity to make their concerns known to allow for an investigation or localised vetting within the respective jurisdiction before the general tabulation is announced. “What we facilitate centrally is a central tabulation for verification and to hold the record for the purposes of verification. And just in case any issue is raised we have documentation which will form as our basis for reconciliation.”
Through the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, the country’s ICT is being expanded to remote areas This will allow for easier and efficient transfer of information over the E-government network which is managed by the National Data Management Authority.
By: Stacy Carmichael.
Images: Jules Gibson.