ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC—The Independent Caucus for Constitution Reform (RCCR) says its membership will not participate in public consultations organized by the Parliamentary Elections Office (PEO) ahead of plans to introduce a new voter registration system in Grenada.
The PEO said it would be holding a series of public meetings to educate the public about the new system.
“The Parliamentary Elections Office is in the process of procuring a new computerized voter registration system. As a result, the Office will embark on a series of public consultations on the voter registration process,” it said in a statement.
“These consultations aim to gather feedback from citizens and stakeholders, to enhance the registration system further, and address any concerns or suggestions,” it added. They are listing the nine locations for consultations.
However, the RCCR, a non-governmental organization invited to the consultations, said its membership would not participate in any of the nine consultations because of the short notice.
The CRRC, a group of citizens concerned about the lack of education on the Constitution of Grenada, said, “It is with regret that we inform your Office that despite our commitment to the process of electoral reform, the notice is not sufficient to engage a broader grouping of civil society and communities meaningfully.
“This transition affects the core of our democracy, and adequate time is needed to discuss and respond to this proposal. We are also alarmed that data from your Office shows a total of 91,145 registered voters, yet only nine consultations are scheduled over two weeks for nine days. This surmises that there are expectations of approximately 10,000 persons per session,” the CRRC said in response to the invitation from Elvis Morain, Supervisor of Elections.
“This is unrealistic, and our Grouping, though willing, cannot facilitate it now. We stand firm that the entitlement to vote represents the fundamental principle of equality and is intrinsically linked to other rights and freedoms. Therefore, it should be guided by the will and involvement of all eligible voters,” said the Grouping, a voluntary organization.”
The CRRC is advocating for a more comprehensive consultative process, including a ‘Report from the Supervisor of Elections ventilated in our Parliament and circulated via public fora’, to ensure a thorough discussion on this important matter.
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