GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Voters in this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country will know within a week the date on which they will have an opportunity of choosing a new President and government for Guyana.
Outgoing President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is prevented by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term in office says he will announce the date for the 2011 national and regional elections that political observers say could be held in November.
Jagdeo told a news conference that he had received a letter from the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Steve Surujbally, indicating that the official list of electors has been prepared in accordance with the provision of the National Registration Act, Chapter 1908, the Registration of the People Act and the Election Laws (Amendment) Act.
The letter further stated that the official List of Electors (OLE) has been duly certified by Commissioner of Registration, Chief Elections Officer, Gocool Boodhoo, and is now ready for publication.
Jagdeo said as a result of being notified the date for the elections will be announced within a week and assured that all procedures will be carried out in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.
Meanwhile, Surujbally said that, GECOM is “very much ready” for the elections.
“There are bits and pieces, all of which are solvable and all of which are capable of efficiently accomplishing and any other bits and pieces that might emerge over the next months. I hope that good sense will prevail and that we will have a violence-free, fair, and transparent election,” he added.
The elections are likely to result in the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) facing an amalgam of opposition parties under the grouping “A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that includes the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). (CMC)
