GEORGETOWN: GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally recently met with a small delegation of electoral experts from the UNDP to discuss a number of pertinent issues pertaining the effective and efficient management of the upcoming elections.
“During the meeting, the team discussed the upcoming elections and the challenges the Commission may face in the successful delivery of the polling in May. Some of the points discussed included results management, electoral disputes, party financing, gender, voter information and campaign access to media, as well as the role of international and national observer groups,” GECOM disclosed.
During the meeting, GECOM took the opportunity to highlight the Commission’s current state of preparation for the conduct of elections, and other areas, such as the provision of consultancies, advisors, and experts, particularly in the area of Civic and Voter Education.
Policy Analyst – Election & Gender Governance and Peace building, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Lea Zoric; and Electoral/Political Affairs Officer, Electoral Assistance Division, Department of Political Affairs, Richard Gee were two UNDP experts that met with GECOM.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said Cabinet has favorably considered Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) recommendation for the resuscitation of the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU).
He said too that Cabinet was made aware of the offer by the European Union (EU) Delegation and other international donors to support the resuscitation of the Unit.
Even before the proclamation by President Donald Ramotar that General and Regional Elections would be held on May 11, GECOM had been seeking funding to aid in the resuscitation of the unit.
The unit’s functions include monitoring the media and reporting on breaches of the principles enshrined in the Media Code of Conduct and norms associated with international best practices in journalism, and encourages equity, balance and fairness in news reporting. It also promotes the raising of professional standards in the media.
In the lead up to the 2011 Elections, the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration had pulled the plug on the MMU, resulting in its life coming to an end in July 2010. It was Dr Luncheon, who in the capacity of Head of the Presidential Secretariat, advised the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to halt funding for the unit. The decision was made even though, GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally had that year written to the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, making a case for the continuance of the MMU. Dr Surujbally, in his letter, had also alluded to the role the unit played in the 2006 Elections.
Nevertheless, in addition to updating the Cabinet on the financial support that is being offered for the resuscitation of the unit, Dr Luncheon said the Cabinet was also informed of the visit by the United Nations (UN) Electoral Needs Assessment Mission to GECOM.
“Cabinet was of course reminded that historically the UN system they would mount such missions in participating states, who as Guyana on May 11 would be entering into an electoral cycle. The essentially would extensively and intensively review the preparedness for the National Authorities in this case, GECOM for holding the elections”. In addition to meeting with GECOM, the UN Electoral Needs Assessment Mission would also be consulting with other stakeholders during this electoral season.
Meanwhile, GECOM in a statement on Wednesday confirmed its meeting with its UN electoral experts, noting that it continues to strategically engage its International Development Partners in the lead up to the May 11 elections.
You must be logged in to post a comment.