Elections Preparation Update……….
Georgetown, GINA, April 16, 2006
Elections can be held any date after August 30
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has erased uncertainty surrounding a date for General and Regional Elections in Guyana by indicating on April 13 that Elections can be held on any date after August 30.
The Organisation of American States (OAS) which had earlier in the week urged that Elections should be held as early as possible has pledged to observe the process here in a bid to ensure free, fair and credible elections of an international standard.
GECOM had informed President Bharrat Jagdeo on April 13 of its decision regarding the elections as the law provides for the President to declare a date for Election after he has been advised by GECOM.
However, the Commission indicated that out of caution, the Commission has decided not to advise the President, the Signatories to the MoU and the Parliamentary Political Parties on any specific date after August 30 for the Elections.
This approach was adopted because of the possibility of the emergence of extraneous interferences which could influence the completion of prerequisite tasks associated with the Electoral calendar.
Printing of the PLE begins
Another breakthrough emerging from GECOM’s April 12 Statutory meeting was a direction by the Commission for the commencement of the printing of the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) which will start on May 2 and conclude on June 5.
GECOM stated “the Commission took a majority decision to direct the CEO to commence production of the PLE and the Preliminary List of Non-Resident Electors in preparation for Claims and Objections (C & O).”
OAS urges early Elections
The Organisation of American States (OAS) is urging the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to hold Elections as soon as possible.
Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Ambassador Albert Ramdin at a press conference held at the Pegasus Hotel on April 10 said “the OAS urges that elections be held as soon as possible” adding that “the OAS urges the Guyana Elections Commission to establish a realistic timetable as soon as possible.”
Ramdin indicated that this is not the official position. He noted that from a technical point of view the elections are not possible and there are some political issues that have to be settled.
Ramdin stressed that “the OAS will prefer to have elections within the constitutional timeframe”. He however added that elections should be postponed only on sound grounds if there is need to do so.
OAS to observe Elections
Ambassador Ramdin headed a four day OAS mission to Guyana last week meeting with government officials, electoral authorities, political party leaders, members of civil society and the donor community to begin preparations for the launch of its observer mission here.
On April 10 the OAS Ambassador signed two agreements, one with GECOM and the other with the Government of Guyana to ensure access to information and free movement of OAS observers throughout the country.
The OAS observer mission will comprise of a long-term component of technical experts due to arrive in Guyana in the next few weeks and a short component of an unspecified number of observers who will be present on Elections day.
The OAS will make scheduled visits to Guyana several times over the next few months.
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Minister Baksh visits West Bank Demerara villages
- Assesses impact of water shortage
Georgetown, GINA, April 16, 2006
Minister of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh and a team from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) today visited several villages on the West Bank Demerara, which are currently experiencing a shortage in water supply as a result of the collapse of a well in the area.
The well, located at La Grange usually supplies water to, besides La Grange, Nismes, and Bagotsville. It had collapsed on Thursday last and according to Minister Baksh, the well is been cleaned and desilted and should be operational in two weeks.
The Housing Minister further stated that government is spending $5M dollars to repair the facility. On the interim, GWI has contracted private entities to distribute water to the areas.
The purpose of the Minister and team’s visit was to listen to the concerns of residents and to assess the interim distribution of water.
Residents told the Housing Minister that the water distribution process is not being conducted equitably by the contracted distributors.
Some noted that sections of Independence Street, La Grange, Nismes and Bagotsville had not received water for days.
In this regard, the Minister pointed out that, “GWI needs to be more proactive than reactive in their Public Relations” to ensure that residents are aware of the situation and also to ensure that all homes receive an adequate supply of water daily until the well is repaired.
Residents were also urged by the GWI team to desist from opening the ‘flush outs’ or the lines the water company uses to clear the water systems, since this act prevents other residents from accessing their supply.
Minister Baksh told the residents that he would ensure that an adequate water supply to the areas recommences shortly and promised to revisit the communities on Tuesday, April 18.
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