Dear Editor,
Please permit me to comment on the cartoon which was published under the title ‘Politikles’ in the Stabroek News of Monday, February 7.
In most print media houses, cartoonists are given a carte blanche – and quite rightly so. We are fortunate, here in Guyana , to have arguably the region’s foremost cartoonist/caricaturist/critic – Mr Paul Harris.
However, Mr Harris, through ill-advised cartoon innuendo, could create a doubt (in the populace’s collective mind), the repercussion of which could produce serious social disquietude. My point is that although, in a democracy, no agency should be immune from the cartoonist’s pen, one should tread carefully when attempting (even accidentally and unconsciously) to tarnish an image in which the voting public needs to believe.
Gecom is a case in point. We do not mind being the butt of humour, even rancour, when we slip away from the proverbial straight and narrow – as was the case with some unsatisfactory photographs on ID cards. However, we do believe that robust or gentle castigation must always be based on truth and facts, not speculation and gossip.
The cartoon by Mr Harris of Feb 7 in essence poked fun at the genuineness of any Gecom list of electors. The cartoon suggested that enough dead people will be on the final voters’ list, as to warrant mention and critique; or that live persons have been pronounced dead.
Whichever way, the cartoon is in effect challenging the credibility of the process associated with the preparation of the Official List of Electors. This is too serious a matter to make jokes about – especially when one knows very well, from relatively recent history, that the accuracy (rather inaccuracy) of voters lists has led to protest, burning, looting and bloodshed. Voters lists are a perpetual source of discontent. For this reason, Gecom spends an inordinate amount of time and effort to get the final voters list/Official List of Electors right!
Please allow me to explain the process pertaining to the removal of deceased persons from the voters list. The General Register Office (GRO) sends monthly lists of deceased persons for that period. In order for the GRO to compile the list of deceased persons, official documentation of the relevant deaths, substantiated by an authorized medical doctor, must be supplied to the GRO.
It is mandatory that such documentation be not only signed by the relevant medical doctor but the cause of death must also be included. Only then does the GRO forward the list of deceased persons to Gecom.
Upon receipt of the list of deceased persons, Gecom proceeds to flag the registration records of those registered in the National Register of Registrants (NRR) as being dead. Such persons will not be included in any future voters list.
I challenge Mr Harris and the editor-in-chief of the Stabroek News to give us ten examples; no, five; no, one example where a person – whose death has been accompanied by the medical and GRO documentation – is still alive, or that a live person has been registered as dead – as the vexatious cartoon may be interpreted. In passing, I should mention that it would be appreciated, if all actors in the unfolding drama of elections would be more supportive of Gecom’s efforts.
For example, it would have been more significant and realistic, if a cartoonist were to depict a registrant living right next door to a Gecom Registration Office, but who has not as yet uplifted his/her ID Card.
Yours faithfully,
R S Surujbally
Chairman
Guyana Elections Commission
