GECOM CEO says replacements sought after presiding officers decline roles

Several appointed presiding officers have declined their positions, prompting the elections commission to seek replacements, Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud said on Monday.

Persaud told a press conference at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) headquarters in Georgetown that polling day staff had already been assigned across the country.

“In that regard, we have encountered some issues where some persons who have been identified based on having met the criteria for appointment in the different areas– we have found that some persons are declining the appointment as Presiding Officers. This has now resulted in us having to seek replacements. The replacement, one might feel that it should have been automatic, in that the Assistant Presiding Officer would have assumed that role, not necessarily so,” he said.

He added that staff are being moved between polling stations to ensure all locations are adequately manned. “I am not concerned that we would not be able to do this in a manner that will affect the operations of the elections,” he said.

Persaud also addressed the ban on cell phones inside polling stations, noting that personnel were reminded to comply with training instructions. He acknowledged that GECOM lacks investigative capacity to enforce the restriction but said notices had been posted last Friday as part of a pilot effort.

“This is the first time that this thing has been put in place. It was a testing ground for us. It is something that we hope to improve on for election day Monday. These instructions are being sent to every polling station with a view of ensuring that the rules are applied,” Persaud said.