‘GECOM working to see whether elections can be held by end of the year’ – says PNCR Chairman

Members of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) were Friday morning assured by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that it is working “to see whether” it is possible to hold general and regional elections by the end of 2019.

“Today we were assured by the Chair and Commissioners that no timeline was set and they are working to see whether they would be able to hold elections this year given the timetable which they have and the statutory requirements which they will ensure that they abide by,” Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Volda Lawrence told reporters following the more than an hour meeting with GECOM.

Lawrence emphasised that GECOM did not provide a definite timeframe for the holding of the elections but reiterated that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government is prepared in the event that elections are held this year.

“The chairperson did say that she had indicated that they are working towards the end of this year to try to see whether that timeframe, all the things that they have to do – statutory and administration – will allow them to conclude on this matter of elections by the end of the year. There’s no definite time, they’re still working on this timetable,” Lawrence explained.

Friday’s meeting was held two days after the Opposition People’s Progressive Party met with the full Commission where they too claimed that the GECOM Chairman, Justice (Rtd) Claudette Singh supported holding elections by the end of this year.

The coalition, however, is maintaining that the elections must be held with a credible list of voters.

“We have been assured that the information from the House to House registration process will be used in the upcoming general and regional elections,” the PNCR Chairman said.

She said the APNU and AFC was able to put forward its case to GECOM.

“Basically we were able to put forward our case in terms of ensuring the list is credible, that persons be given the opportunity, who were not allowed to register in the House to House registration – that during the claims period, that they will be given the opportunity to do so,” Lawrence explained.

President David Granger has been under pressure to name a date for general and regional elections following the ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice that December 21, 2018  No Confidence motion is valid.

The CCJ in its consequential orders urged the President, the National Assembly GECOM to abide by the letter and spirit of the clear constitutional provisions of a No Confidence vote – that elections should be held in three months – which puts the date at September 18.

Those who attended Friday’s meeting include Attorney General Basil Williams, General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform and Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; Chair of the PNCR and Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence; Minister responsible for Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley who is also a member of the Working People’s Alliance; Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Jaipaul Sharma who represents the Justice for All Party, Keith Scott and Sydney Allicock.

Members of the Alliance For Change David Patterson and Catherine Hughes also attended the meeting.