Georgetown : Hours before the polls were set to open for Guyana’s Regional and General Election at least one of the parties contesting had raised the issue of a possible disenfranchisement of their polling agents but this was quickly denounced by the Chairman of the Elections Commission Dr Steve Surujbally.
A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) headed by Brigadier retired David Granger had complained that their polling agents may not be allowed to vote given that they are not being allowed to cast their ballot at the polling station that they were working but GECOM says they will stick to the letter of the law.
Chief Elections Officer Gocool Boodhoo had explained that during a meeting of the Commission on Saturday last, it was unanimously agreed that certificates of employment will not be issued to facilitate voting by polling and counting agents at the stations they are deployed to work.
Dr Surujbally during yesterday’s first media update held at the Elections Media Centre` which was hosted at the Pegasus, Savannah said that he was pleased with the initial reports of peace and tranquility nationwide as persons turned up early to cast their votes.
In addressing the issue of the polling agents Dr Surujbally said that it would seem logical that GECOM would accommodate the polling agents to cast their ballots at the station to which they have been seconded to work on Election Day.
“We are not going to break the law” says Dr Surujbally who explained that the law (The Representation of Peoples Act) is very clear that specific persons are allowed to vote at their place of poll (where they are working) and have not registered there.
“The authors of this wise document,” stated that the Presiding Officer and Assistants, Polling day Clerks and other specified GECOM staffers but not any polling agent will be allowed to vote at that location.
“We will not deviate from the law it is as simple as that,” said Dr Surujbally.
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