PPP/C wants GECOM to correct problems before May 11

By Radha Motielall

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The People’s Progressive Party will be writing to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), expressing their concerns over certain matters pertaining to the conduct of the May 02 poll for the Disciplined Services.

General Secretary of the Party, Clement Rohee said based on the observations at the various places on polls on Saturday last, a few things that occurred should not recur, come May 11.

Rohee said on May 02, there was some changes in polling stations on the day itself, and gave the example of Army base Camp, Ayangana, where he said “within the camp itself, polling stations were shifted from one location to another”.

In addition, Rohee said there was the late arrival of ballot boxes and balloting materials at certain locations, late arrival of GECOM staff and late start of balloting.

And for the PPP, he said “most important and critical above all was the refusal of ballot attendees to provide copies of the ballot paper account, at the end of the polling”.

Rohee explained that ballot officers are expected to present the ballot agents with an account of how polling took place at the station.

This he said is not information about the count, but rather information about the number of registered voters at the respective stations, and how many voted, etc.

Rohee acknowledged that while these cases may not have been widespread, it was experienced at some polling stations and the PPP he added wants them addressed before May 11.

In this regard, he said the Party will elucidate in writing to GECOM, the facts, data, places and incidents etc.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C is also stressing on GECOM to guard against the anticipated storming of polling stations and bullying of polling agents. Rohee said based on past experiences, they want GECOM to take all necessary precautions.

And of course, the PPP continues to be vexed about the absence of public vetting of polling day staff and what they claimed are “questionable” places of polls, that is the use of private residences. According to Rohee, “our Commissioners are representing all these issues, at the level of the GECOM”.