PPP using Community Officers to masquerade as GECOM staff – PNCR
[www.inewsguyana.com] – The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) says it is aware that the People’s Progressive Party Civic is using ‘so called’ Community Support Officers (CSO) to do political work in Barima-Waini Region.
A press statement from the Party noted that the CSO’s who are paid by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs “are masquerading as officers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and canvasing residents of the region.”
“The PNCR calls attention to the fact that these persons (CSO’s) are members of the Progress Youth Organization (PYO) engaging in illegal campaign activity on behalf of the PPPC.”
Yesterday, GECOM had cause to issue a statement noting that it is in receipt of reports from Region 1 (Barima-Waini) that unauthorized persons, claiming to be employees of GECOM, have been visiting homes with copies of extracts of the current Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) to check, and advise residents, on their registration status.
But the Commission has distanced itself from such activity and emphatically stated that none of its staff is engaged in any such activity in Region 1 or any other Region.
“Our investigations have revealed that the persons engaged in this activity are alleged “Community Support Officers” in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma,” Gecom said in a statement.
The Commission also noted that its investigations have also revealed that the persons have in their possession a copy of a letter purportedly written by the Regional Executive Officer of the Region authorizing them to engage in the activity of concern.