President to announce elections date soon

Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo said, on Tuesday October 4, now that he has been informed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as to the status quo of the Official List of Electors – or Voters’ List – he will announce the date of elections “within a week.”

President Bharrat Jagdeo says he will announce the date of elections within a week from October 4.

He made the announcement about ‘the big announcement’ at a press briefing held at the Office of the President on Tuesday.

The President told reporters that GECOM sent him a letter, in which the Commission detailed its readiness for the holding of the upcoming polls. The letter reads: “Excellency, please be advised that the Official List of Electors has been prepared in accordance with the National Registration Act Chapter 19:08, the Registration of the People Act 103, the Elections Laws Amendment Act number 15 of 2000.

“Please be further informed that the Official List of Electors has been duly certified by Mr. Gocool Boodhoo, Chief Elections Officer and is now ready for publication. Accompanying this letter is a CD containing the OLE in PDF format,” stated the letter – signed by GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally.

President Jagdeo told reporters that, “now that I have received the notification from the Chairman of the Elections Commission, I plan to – and I know most of you showed up here for this announcement - I plan to, within the week [announce a date for elections]. 

“As most of you will be aware, I have been on record that this would be held in the constitutionally prescribed period for elections in Guyana and so everything will be done in accordance with our Constitution,” the President said.

GECOM had announced that November 14 was its earliest ready date. The President is not expected to set a polling date prior to this. 

Further, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Luncheon, at his last post-Cabinet press briefing, had corrected his earlier stated date by which the new Parliament must be in place. This date is January 28, 2012, four months after the dissolution of the last Parliament. Dr. Luncheo had previously announced December 28, 2011 as that date.

According to the HPS, contracts for the procurement of polling day equipment, tools and materials were also presented and approved by Cabinet. GECOM has assured that, thus far, no ‘hiccups’ have been recorded as preparations are proceeding as planned, according to Dr. Luncheon.