GECOM’s verification exercise provided for by the law – GECOM Chair 

─ no disenfranchisement, persons can still vote

─ names of persons to uplift ID card to be published from Nov. 9

 DPI, Guyana, Friday, November 8, 2019

The verification exercise, which was undertaken by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to have the almost 20,000 Guyanese registered in 2008 to confirm their existence, is fully accounted for in the law and is in no way seeking to disenfranchise anyone.

GECOM Chairman, (retd) Justice Claudette Singh reminded today that section 66 A of the National Registration Act (NRA), as amended by Act 14 of 2005, allows the commission to utilise the verification of the Official List of Electors (OLE) at any time.

The commission has been calling for persons, registered 11 years ago, to present themselves for verification and uplift their National Identification (ID) cards.

“The fact is since 2008, 20,000 persons did not collect their card. Where are those persons? We just want to verify the existence of these people. They should come forward and say “well, I am alive,” the Chair explained.

She alluded to the August 14 ruling of Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George, who also referred to the provisio of section 66 A of the NRA.

“This is the process being utilised to cleanse the list,” Justice Singh said.

The GECOM Chair further explained that persons have 21 days to appear for their cards. If they do not appear within that specified time, their names will be removed from the OLE and placed on a supplemental list. That list will still be available on polling day, in the event they turn up to vote with national identification documents.

The names of persons still to uplift their ID cards will be published in the four daily newspapers beginning on Saturday, November 9. Letters will also be sent to the individuals.