Vishnu Persaud, the Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, the country’s elections body, Saturday morning admitted the deficiency of his secretariat in providing updated information to the public and said he will hold regular press conferences from coming Monday.
Reporters have regularly complained that there has been but a trickle of information from GECOM, especially now when general and regional elections are weeks away. The elections will be held on September 1, 2025.
Persaud, speaking at the opening of a training session for reporters, said he has sought and received permission from the Commission to hold press conferences and make himself available for interviews. He has authorised the Deputy Chief Elections Officer Aneal Giddings to do so if he is not available. The Secretariat acts on the direction of the Commission.
The training session was organised to allow reporters to understand GECOM’s operational framework, the electoral laws and the various stages of the electoral cycle.
“We believe that a well-informed media is an indispensable partner in ensuring that the election processes and outcomes are accepted by all stakeholders, especially the contestants and the voters, as being free, fair, transparent and credible,” Persaud stated.
He said the training session is designed to foster a collaborative environment where the GECOM Secretariat can address questions and clarify procedures to as to build a shared commitment to uphold the principles of electoral integrity.
“We recognize that the media serves as the primary conduit of information between GECOM and Guyana’s populist, more specifically the contestants and the voters.
“This includes the tabulation of results, which is considered to be of paramount importance as a closing component of the electoral process.”
Among the matters being discussed at the training session are the legal framework governing elections in Guyana, including the Representation of the People Act, so reporters are fully aware of the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders.
Reporters will also be provided with insights into the security measures in place to safeguard the electoral materials and the integrity of the ballot.
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