Vincent Alexander, and others who sit on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in representation of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), argued that it is inequitable to deny smaller political parties a hard copy of the Preliminary List of Electors. But GECOM Chair, Claudette Singh, “as she usually does” voted with commissioners who represent the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).
This is based of the account given to this publication by Alexander. He explained that it has indeed been the practice to give the List to political parties represented in Parliament. And therefore, a copy was given to APNU.
AFC has been denied a copy because it is in parliament, not as a party in its own right, but as a companion to APNU. However, while the two political forces faced the electorate as one at the last election, they are now returning to the polls as separate entities. GECOM has not bothered to concern itself with this state of affairs and has therefore used the same mechanism that was applied for the 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Alexander said that Forward Guyana and Liberty and Prosperity asked GECOM for the List but were denied.
“We argued that all contesting parties should be given the List as it is inequitable not to give the smaller parties,” said Alexander.
Alexander said that GECOM’s counter to the argument of equitability is that it is too expensive to provide the list to all competing parties, “they said it will be costly and timely.”
Alexander said it will also be a heavy financial burden to be carried by smaller parties, “remember you are dealing with seven hundred and something thousand names.”
