The opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic has once again called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to begin preparation for elections now.
While accusing the commission of relegating the various judicial rulings to “secondary” considerations the party has reminded that National Identification Cards are not necessary for elections.
“Talk about the production of re-designed national identification cards is wholly unnecessary at this point in time and is designed to delay the Elections,” the party stated in a press release stressing that the history of the matter is well known. “It must be noted that the European Union in its 2001 Observer report said: “In 1998 Esther Pereira, a PNC supporter, petitioned the High Court to set aside the results of the 1997 (elections)…Justice Claudette Singh found that the requirement for voters to have a voter ID card in 1997 was ultra vires Articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution (despite a parliamentary agreement to use the cards). Consequently the elections were therefore null and void.” the party explained noting that a national identification card is not necessary to vote, since other means of identification can be used.
