PPP wants background checks for Polling day staff

Filed: 14th January, 2015, Source - News Source

Guyana’s governing People’s Progressive Party wants the Elections Commission to begin carrying out background checks on the staff members it will be hiring for polling day duties.

President Ramotar has indicated that the country will head to early elections this year.

During a recent meeting with the Guyana Elections Commission, PPP Executives insisted that “proper background checks of applicants must be done by GECOM”.

According to the party, the move should ensure that GECOM recruits suitable persons who are “deemed fit to execute their duties in a professional and neutral manner” on elections day.

In a statement the party called for a public vetting process of GECOM staff members for the elections. The party said it is committed to provide GECOM with justifications in respect of persons not suitable for employment by the Elections Commission.

“The Party delegation advised that for GECOM to gain public trust and allow for further vetting, GECOM must make public the names of all persons to be employed earliest, added to this the Party requested GECOM to inform all Political Parties about training schedules and to make accessible to Political Parties the training manuals”, a PPP statement said.

The party has also recommended to GECOM that Presiding Officers found guilty of intentional and biased acts in previous elections be blacklisted from playing any role in future elections.

During the last elections, a number of political parties complained about access to polling stations while some polling day staff complained about being intimidated and threatened by activists of various political parties.

The Elections Commission has indicated that it intends to address all of the concerns as it moves forward with its elections preparations.

Filed: 14th January, 2015