By Haruna Kuyateh
Voter’s Registration is smoothly progressing and free of hitches as people form queue to get their voter’s card.
IEC officials delivered all essential materials and security to registration centres. The Civil Society Coalition on Election also dispatch teams that are monitoring the process, as it forms part of monitoring elections cycle.
During the first two days of operations, IEC registration staffs experienced some technical problems and resulted people to stay longer on queues in order to have their voter’s card. NPP and UDP party agents were seen on most registration centres.
IEC has provided attestation letters to IEC officials and whilst the alkalolu always verified ages and nationalities before it is stamp.
The move taken by IEC to inform political party agents, was seen as many as timely during the fourth days, party agents were seen affecting operations. Police officers were seen in all the stations and security were also on patrol to ensure peaceful registration exercise.
National Council for Civic Education NCCE with support from UNDP Electoral support cycle held Dialogue with traditional authorities on the ongoing General Voters Registration Exercise on the Theme: Credible Voter Registry:
The Cornerstone For A Free, Fair and Transparent Elections. The program target chiefs, alkalolu, women and youths all aimed to ensure appropriate measures are put in place on issuing of documents for voter’s card. The convergence was held in Kerewan north bank region and attended by district chiefs, political parties’ representative, women and youths.
Yusupha Bojang Program Manager NCCE emphasized the important of outreach program as it helps to clear doubts on the types of documents and specifically the issue of attestation letter by alkalolu.
He called on alkalolu to desist from issuing documents under age and non-Gambia, as Alkalolu position are key and said should control stamps.
It is believed that women and youths hardly secure national documents. The alkalolu hailed NCCE for their tireless in educating and noted that it would help to address information gaps.
