GECOM gives into PPPC’s request for Claims and Objections extension

Last Updated on Friday, 22 August 2014, 21:09 by GxMedia

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Friday gave into a request  by the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to extend the Claims and Objections period by seven days, according to sources.

The decision was taken despite publicly stated objections by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC).

The top-level management of GECOM was not involved in the decision by the seven-member Commission that consulted by round-robin on the PPP’s formal request that was made earlier this week.

With the extension from of the August 24 deadline, Claims to be included on the Preliminary Voters List can now be made up to August 31 while the Objections period would last until September 7.

GECOM was Friday expected to formally informe the PPP, A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (AFC) about its decision.

It was not immediately clear whether the decision was made by the commission unanimously or by majority.

The PPPC and the government had asked for the extension on the ground that there was a huge number of persons who needed to be transferred from one area to another since the November 2011 general and regional elections.

APNU had hinted that it would not have supported the request while AFC has stated outright that it would not back any move by the PPP to delay the holding of the polls that are almost inevitable as a result of the still pending no-confidence motion.

Sponsored by the AFC, the motion could be debated when the parliamentary recess ends on October 10. When passed, the President and Cabinet would have to resign but remain in office until elections are held within 90 days. Alternatively, President Donald Ramotar can call the elections before the motion is debated and passed.

APNU has pledged its 26 seats to support the AFC’s seven to pass the motion.