Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn, both who represent the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), are convinced that deliberate attempts are being made by the Secretariat to undermine the work of the newly installed Chairwoman Justice (retired) Claudette Singh as it relates to holding Claims and Objections within the agreed 35-day period. As a consequence, they are calling for sanctions to be imposed on the mischief-makers and for there to be scrutiny of their works going forward.
The PPP Commissioners, at a press conference earlier, exposed two instances where they found efforts of mischief to be glaring. At the Leader of the Opposition’s Church Street Office, Gunraj told the media that the Commission agreed for claims and objections to be held on October 1. It was also agreed that it would last for 35 days, thereby bringing the closing date to November 4. The Commissioner noted however that the Official Gazette notes that the claims and objections period will come to an end on November 18. This means that it would result in 49 days for the holding of the exercise instead of the agreed 35.
Gunraj said that he and his colleague Benn brought the matter to the Chairwoman’s attention and she was “clearly surprised” at the inaccuracy contained in the published document. The commissioners said that Singh undertook to investigate how this occurred as the said document has her signature attached to it. Gunraj said that this situation surly leaves one to question what other issues have not seen the light of day.
In addition to this, the Commissioners pointed out that a press release was purportedly issued today by GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Warde which goes beyond repeating the erroneous dates in the gazette. Gunraj said it goes on to state that during this exercise, every person whose name appears on the preliminary list of electors must visit the registration office of their respective area and present an identification card to verify their registration record in order to be included in the official list of electors.
Gunraj said that this is nothing but “hogwash” and can only be seen as imposing another version of house-to-house registration. He said that the Commission did not agree to this. In fact, it was never even brought up for discussion.
Attempts by this news agency to obtain Warde’s perspective on this issue proved unsuccessful. On the first call that was made, she asked for the name of the reporter and the news agency. When the same was provided, she ended the call. Five more calls were subsequently made but they all went to voicemail.
Nonetheless, the PPP Commissioner, Sase Gunraj said that this is not the first but perhaps the third consecutive time he is seeing such attempts at undermining the efforts of the Commission and its new Chair. His colleague, Commissioner Benn, was also in support of Gunraj’s arguments while nothing that all he has witnessed thus far amounts to “sheer wickedness.”
Both Commissioners agreed that the foregoing underscores the need for external security for all works leading up to elections. They also said that this “external scrutiny” must extend to during the holding of elections and after.
In addition to this, Commissioners Benn and Gunraj said they will be calling for sanctions against those who are responsible for the dastardly acts they have unearthed.
