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– but lashes out against others for “bias and lack of objectivity”The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was praised,Kobe Bryant Lower Merion Jersey, yesterday, by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Clement Rohee, who found to be principally democratic, the Commission’s recent move to invite international observers to monitor the May 11 elections.PPP General Secretary, Clement RoheeAt his press conference which was hosted at Freedom House, yesterday, Rohee said that the Party views this as a positive development and a step in the right direction when it comes to ensuring that the upcoming General and Regional Election is free and fair.Rohee even lauded the Commission for also making it known to the nation that the results for the looming election will be disclosed the following day.The politician said that surely, all would agree that such an action would bring a tremendous amount of relief to Guyanese,Malik Monk Kentucky Jersey, for delayed results have created much frustration and tension in the country.But the compliments quickly yielded to some harsh criticisms. The PPP General Secretary said that the government is however concerned about other statements made by the Commission in the media. The comments purportedly made by the Election Commission were to the effect that the 2011 General Election was “problem free.”Rohee said that if the comment was indeed made by the Commission, then it gives a flawed impression to the Guyanese people who actually witnessed several deviations from GECOM’s operational procedures during that time.Further, with the commencement of the claims and objections period on February 9, the Minister of Home Affairs asserted that his Party is also concerned about the reduced number of registration centres within large communities even though there is an overall increase in registration centres countrywide.He then chided the Commission,Brad Kaaya Miami Jersey, stating that the placement of offices for claims and objections reflects a “bias and lack of objectivity.”Rohee said that three offices are operating in a small cluster in the Timehri-Soesdyke area, while the next office is at Grove, East Bank Demerara. Another is at Mocha. But none, he pointed out, could be found in Diamond,Cheap Jerseys Store, Herstelling and Providence, where the voting population is five times that in Mocha.He noted, too, that while there are 13 offices in South Georgetown, only four are situated in the North Georgetown district.Time and again,Jim Harbaugh Michigan Jersey, the party has expressed concerns over the use of mobile units during the election period and the seemingly uncoordinated visits to communities, more so in the hinterland region.The PPP General Secretary said that he is hopeful that these issues will be addressed by the Commission in a timely manner. The PPP is confident that should these concerns be addressed in an efficient manner, the results of the May 11 election will be accepted by all Guyanese.He then called on GECOM to also ensure persons recruited to work on Election Day are selected through a transparent process so as to gain the nation’s acceptance of the results. Rohee also renewed his party’s call for public vetting of all polling day staff.As it relates to the pace of the PPP election preparedness,Le Veon Bell Michigan State Jersey, Rohee told media operatives that the administration is still deliberating on the Prime Ministerial candidate as well as the date for launching its election campaign.He was then asked about the assurances he got from the Commission that it would be able to deliver election results in one day.“We don’t have a crystal ball in our hands,Tyrann Mathieu LSU Jersey, but in the two meetings we had with them …we were given these assurances. However, assurances are one thing but reality is another, and we can only go on the basis of the assurances they have given.That does not mean we will fall into a state of complacency and swallow hook,Kirk Cousins Michigan State Jersey, line and sinker what GECOM told us without doing our necessary party work, to ensure that what was assured indeed becomes a reality,Luke Hancock Louisville Jersey,” the politician said.The PPP General Secretary said, too, that while elections campaigns are usually costly, the PPP is trying to “keep down the cost and look at what we spent last (time).” Though he could not recall the exact figure the government spent on its 2011 election campaign, he said that the party tries its best to be modest while holding the activities that various sections of the population expect of a campaign.In the absence of proper Campaign Financing Legislation, Rohee emphasized that the PPP/C tries to keep its cost down. He said, “We are not a businessman-funded party so it’s a question of cutting the cloth to suit the person wearing the suit. We can’t afford everything but we try our best with the resources we have and we can’t appear like we have it all.We have an unlimited supply of money.But from what we are hearing, the opposition has large sums of money too. “I mean who is contributing to their pot of gold. I really can’t say at this point, but our resources come mainly from fund raising activities in and outside Guyana.” |
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