General elections to cost more than GUY$2 billion

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 February 2015, 23:36 by GxMedia

Guyana’s upcoming general and regional elections are expected to cost more than GUY$2 billion, according to Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield.

He told reporters after a news conference that the cost to hold the May 11, 2015 poll would be around GUY$2.4 billion, about the same cost of that of the November 2011 election.

Lowenfield said the Guyana Elections Commission does not have a budget because Parliament has been prorogued.

He said GECOM was relying on the legal provision that allows government to spend one-twelfth of the previously budgeted expenditure and “other arrangements are in place.”

The Chief Elections Officer explained that he has to make formal requests for funding to the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon.

Other government sources had previously indicated that the administration enjoys the option of tapping into the Contingency Fund.

The Guyana government has not tabled a 2015 Budget in the National Assembly because the Parliament has been prorogued since November 10, 2014 to stave off a no-confidence vote in the government by the combined opposition.