APNU blasted…
PPP bent on ensuring a clean Preliminary List of Electors
THE General Secretary of the ruling party yesterday blasted the main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), highlighting that the People’s National Congress (PNC), a major component of the APNU coalition, has never won free and fair elections in Guyana.To this end, Rohee made it clear that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will continue its scrutiny of the electors’ list to ensure it is a “clean and transparent” list that does not disenfranchise any eligible voter in Guyana.
He was speaking during a press conference held at Freedom House, Robb Street.
The General-Secretary said, “The PPP has stood steadfast to the age-old principle of supporting the right of every eligible Guyanese to be involved in the electoral process. From its victory in achieving universal adult suffrage in 1953 – that is the right of every eligible Guyanese to exercise the franchise and later to vote at the age of 21; and the right much later to vote at the age of 18 in national elections, the PPP to this day will continue to ensure that every eligible voter is listed and those not eligible are removed from the list.”
He also commented on the now completed Claims and Objections Period, and commended the party’s activists and supporters at all levels of the party’s structure for the commitment and dedication displayed in executing the house to house checks on the Preliminary List of Electors.
Rohee said, “We are proud of our activists for identifying the large number of particulars of deceased persons and those of persons listed on the PLE (Preliminary List of Electors) at addresses where they could not be located.
“Their efforts have assisted the Party in submitting 2,438 objections on the grounds of persons being deceased. We were able to secure the evidence for these deceased persons, and 2,265 on the grounds of persons “not found” at the time of visits and checks with persons living in close proximity to the stated address on the PLE.”
The inclusion of deceased persons on the PLE was one of several concerns raised by the party, concerns that have since been responded to by the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally.
The Commission’s Chairman responded to the ruling party’s concerns point-by-point and addressed areas that included:
* The increase of almost 80,000 voters on the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE);
* How persons living at the same address in Georgetown are placed on different divisional lists;
* Why it has not yet conducted a physical verification of the discovery of 18 electors at one address; and
* The discovery of 10 persons listed at an address at Prospect, East Bank Demerara, which is an unoccupied empty lot “overgrown” with bushes; among other issues.
The PPP General Secretary reiterated that efforts in expressing the party’s concerns were to ensure a clean and transparent PLE. “The PPP will oppose any and every attempt to manipulate the voters’ list from any quarter,” he said.