Parties to receive Final Voters List next week
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 (Demerara Waves)
The final voters list for the 2011 general election is to be handed over to the contesting political parties next week, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon disclosed on Wednesday, September 28, 2011.
Addressing the media at his post-Cabinet news briefing at the Office of the President, Dr. Luncheon said they were told that preparations for the election were proceeding as planned and there were given no anticipation of any problems.
“The Revised List (of Electors) has been circulated to 17 political parties that have indicated their intention to participate and GECOM has advised that the OLE (Official List of Electors) would be printed and within one week’s time would also be distributing hard copies to participating parties at the general and regional elections,” Dr. Luncheon said.
GECOM has indicated that November 14 is the earliest date by which it could be ready for the polls and it is up to President Bharrat Jagdeo to set the election date.
The elections are constitutionally due by December 28 but presidential candidate of the incumbent PPP Donald Ramotar has said that he is not too keen on a December election while Dr. Luncheon had previously given November 14 to December 10 as the likely period in which Guyanese will go to the polls.
President Jagdeo has said that he would decide on a date for the election in consultation with Ramotar, putting polling day in late November, most likely, if he is of similar mind as his candidate.
The election date has to be announced before November 14 in order for Nomination Day to be set 30 days before polling day.
Meanwhile, Dr. Luncheon added that Cabinet noted GECOM’s recent announcement that it was experiencing a staff shortfall for polling day and was reassured that the full complement should be met by mid-October. The agency had said that there was a shortfall of about some 2,000 workers to work on polling day in Region 4.
