APNU meets Elections Commission on preparations for polls

APNU meets Elections Commission on preparations for polls

APNU Leader David Granger along with senior partnership functionaries including Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, Amna Ally and Joseph Harmon met with officials of the Guyana Elections Commission to discuss several major issues as the Commission gears up for early elections in 2015.

Just after the meeting, Dr. Roopnarine told reporters that “we had a very full exchange with the Elections Commission and we were interested in the various processes including the continuous registration process and all of the election day preparations and the question of training. We went through a fairly full agenda.”

He explained that the APNU wanted to get a clear indication of GECOM’s readiness for early elections. President Donald Ramotar announced last weekend that he has decided to call elections in 2015. He explained during a nationally televised press conference that he will make an announcement of the actual date for the elections early in the new year.

Dr. Roopnarine said the Elections Commission provided answers to all of the questions that were raised by the party. He said their explanations were full and comprehensive. With regards to the actual preparations for the elections, Roopnarine said “what we have heard, I think is encouraging”.

He noted that the APNU raised concern about the staffing of the Commission for Elections Day duties. He said the Commission is still short on applicants for polling day staff and other positions and they are worried that training could be affected.

GECOM has been running advertisements in the daily newspapers with several vacant positions. Many of the persons who have applied for polling day and other positions have already been invited to training exercises.

APNU General Secretary, Joseph Harmon said the APNU wanted first hand information from the Elections Commission on the state of its preparations. He said the party was not going to rely on statements being made by the government.

The full membership of the Elections Commission as well as the Chief Elections Officer and the Deputy Chief Elections Officer met with the APNU.

News Source understands that the opposition party also raised concerns with the Commission about what it considers “race baiting” statements that have been issued by the governing People’s Progressive Party. The Commission has been provided with evidence of one of the statements. Additionally, the APNU also raised the issue of the PPP utilizing the state’s resources while on the campaign trail.

The current cycle of continuous registration is expected to end in February. However, if the President sets an early elections date, that process will be truncated.

Filed-11th December, 2014

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