All factors will be considered to decide on House to House registration – GECOM Commissioner

Government nominated Commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Charles Corbin says all factors will be taken into consideration when the Commissioners meet to discuss the controversial House to House registration exercise.

The exercise is ongoing to create a new voters’ list for the next General and Regional Elections.

“Whenever the issue reaches the table, the Commissioners will look at all of the factors at that time and determine what is the best way forward,” he told reporters outside of GECOM’s head office on High Street, Georgetown on Wednesday afternoon.

Corbin along with his colleagues, Vincent Alexander and Desmond Trotman had just met with newly appointed Chairman of GECOM, Justice (retired) Claudette Singh.

“At the moment, that matter [House to House registration] is being executed and at the time when we will be faced with making a decision, all of the factors will be taken into consideration,” Corbin told reporters.

Earlier in the day, the Chairman met with Opposition nominated Commissioners who disclosed that issues discussed surrounded the conduct of general and regional elections, the conduct of House to House registration and Claims and Objections.

The Government nominated Commissioners did not expound on what was discussed at their meeting but when probed about the registration exercise, Alexander said “everything possible was discussed.”

“We had a cordial meeting and await our formal meeting,” he added.

Asked whether he still supports that there is a need for the registration exercise, he said “at this time, yes.”

But when probed about a possible change in his view, Alexander noted that “my view is that there should be sanitation of the list, sanitation of the national register of registrants for the provision of a list that can provide credible elections. That is not likely to change.”

He told the media that at the time of approval, the registration process was the only method on the table to sanitise the list.

The Opposition is arguing that a Claims and Objections exercise can be used to sanitise the voter’s list which expired on April 30^th. Their argument is premised on the fact that the time for holding elections is limited following the Caribbean Court of Justice’s June 18^th ruling which validated the December 21,2018 No-Confidence motion against the Government.

Currently, there is a High Court case challenging the constitutionality of the House to House registration exercise. The hearing is set for Friday before Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George-Wiltshire.

Justice Singh on Tuesday met with Senior Managers of GECOM Secretariat where she discussed the functioning of the agency.

Justice Singh was selected for the post last Friday by President David Granger from a list of six names submitted by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.