House-to-House Registration update: 150,000+ positively responds to exercise

— work moving apace

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, August 6, 2019

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), to date, has registered over 150,000 Guyanese, as its current House-to-House Registration process continues.

On Tuesday, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward indicated that the process is moving apace but has faced some challenges.

She told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that one of the challenges encountered is an incident which occurred on Sunday morning. Ward disclosed that a man attacked a group of GECOM enumerators. During this ordeal, the man managed to escape with some of the enumerators’ personal belongings and documents. The incident occurred while the team was in the fields at Covent Garden on the East Bank of Demerara. “The alleged perpetrator was caught and is in police custody,” the PRO said.

She further revealed that several field workers were verbally attacked while on duty. However, she remains adamant that those incidents will not halt GECOM from carrying out its mandate. The commission will continue to work closely with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to apprehend anyone who may have the intention of disrupting the procedure, Ward stated.

GECOM commenced its House-to-House Registration on Saturday, July 20. The exercise is a legal requirement according to the National Registration Act, Chapter 19;08 and will help to create a new National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB). Anyone who is intellectually impaired or has a learning disability can also participate in the exercise as services are in place to accommodate.

The Government of Guyana has already shown its full support at the ongoing House-to-House Registration and advises that all Guyanese who meet the eligibility requirements to participate in the process.