GECOM to train 19,000 temporary staff for upcoming elections; $122M approved to rent polling stations

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will train 19,000 temporary staff for the upcoming general and regional elections later this year. The Committee of Supply approved the Commission’s total budget of $7.3 billion on Monday.

In 2024, GECOM received an allocation of $3.5 billion. This increase ensures adequate funding for elections.

The budget allocation includes significant sums for staff training, with millions earmarked for the recruitment and preparation of the temporary workforce.

The funding of $122 million will also cover the rental of private buildings for polling stations. While some polling stations will be located in public buildings free of charge, others will require rental fees.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, was called upon to provide clarity on several aspects of the budget as she presided over the passage of the $18.9 billion budget for all constitutional agencies.

Of particular note, $193 million has been allocated for education and training, though it was clarified that this portion does not include civic education. Rather, the funds are specifically designated for training temporary staff who will operate on Election Day.

Additionally, a separate allocation of $475 million has been set aside for civic education and public awareness campaigns to ensure that voters are well-informed ahead of the elections.

Wages and salaries for GECOM staff were of keen interest for the parliamentary opposition with a total of $1.8 billion designated for personnel costs.

In response to those questions, the Minister noted that the Chief Elections Officer will receive a basic monthly salary of $1.9 million but that figure is much larger when all allowances are added, while the Deputy Chief Elections Officer will earn $20 million annually. The Chairman of GECOM will be entitled to a salary of $33.4 million annually.