UN team evaluating electoral aid needs
Following a request by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), a team from the United Nation is here evaluating what electoral assistance may be needed for the Local Government Elections due by the end of this year and the 2020 General Elections.
A release yesterday from the Attorney General’s Chambers said that a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) team, which consisted of Hassan Sesay, Senior Electoral/Political Affairs Officer; Fernanda Lopes, Election/ Governance Expert and Guillermo Kendall, Senior Political Affairs Officer met with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC and team on the request made by GECOM for provision of technical aid in preparation for the 2018 Local Government Elections and the 2020 General Elections.
The release said that the aim of the visit was to discuss with the Attorney General the purpose of the Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) whose functions are to evaluate the current and electoral environment in Guyana, and evaluate the form of future UN electoral assistance. The NAM will recommend the type of aid that should be provided and the parameters, including the length of assistance, and modalities that will govern such assistance.
The release said that the discussion covered a range of issues that will be dealt with in preparation for the Local Government and General elections. “Those issues are the results tabulation process; developing the necessary software to expedite the process; the biometric instrument used at polling stations; verifications of electoral listings; and to ensure security at the polling stations”, the release said. The UNDP will render support and guidelines in those capacities and where else necessary. At the end of the visit a report will be prepared with recommendations which will be submitted to UNDP Guyana.
“The Minister guarantees his support in this process between GECOM and UNDP”, the release added. The meeting was also attended by Ministry of Legal Affairs Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Charles Fung-a-Fatt SC; Joann Bond; Solicitor General, Kim Kyte; State Solicitor, Ayana Mc Calmon; and Legislative Drafting Consultant, Ananda Dhurjon.