Local government elections cannot be held this year despite a recent statement to the contrary by Local Government Minister, Clinton Collymore.

Following a meeting of the Elections Commission Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, and his senior aides, Chief Election Officer (ag), Gocool Boodoo and Deputy Chief Election Officer, Calvin Benn, a statement issued by the Guyana Information Agency (GINA), quoted Collymore as saying that the elections could be held in the last quarter of the year. However, Surujubally told Stabroek News that the elections were not possible this year.

He explained that he was yet to receive the consolidated report of the recommendations and decisions of the local government reform committee, which Collymore said would be made available. Also, he said, no one knew yet under what electoral system the elections would be held.

Work on this aspect of the committee's work was delayed because of a disagreement over the electoral expert to be recruited to advise the committee. However, that dispute was resolved and the expert Dr Benjamin Riley, from Australia's National University, is expected today.

Surujbally said too that, Victor Butler, one of the two experts who are assisting the commission has already advised the commission that it could not hold the local government elections this year. The National Democratic Institute has made Butler's services available to the commission as well as those of the other experts assisting the commission.

Another setback was the unavailability of Dr Paul Smoke of New York University, who should have assisted the committee with fiscal allocation issues, leaving the committee to identify another expert. Co-chair of the committee, PNC/R vice-chairman, Vincent Alexander, told Stabroek News that as a result the completion of the committee's work would be delayed.

One of the tasks that the committee would have to undertake in preparation for the elections is the registration of voters, prior to the compilation of a preliminary voters' list.

Surujbally explained that this exercise was controlled by statute and as such was not an exercise that could be undertaken unless the legislation was amended.

Another development, though its impact would seem to be minimal, is the recruitment of a Chief Election Officer. The position was recently advertised and the closing date for applications is tomorrow. Boodoo has been acting in this position since late 2000 after the substantive holder of the post, Stanley Singh took ill and later died.

Another critical position yet to be filled is that of the Information Technology Expert to head the computer department, sealed since March 18, 2001. The deadline for applications was extended today.

The commission has acquired the services of Michael Yard whose primary focus is on designing election technology needs and solutions and one of his main tasks is developing a comprehensive Information Systems Methodology Manual (ISMM) for the Information Systems Department of GECOM.

Yard, the release said has had "seven years experience as a consultant on International Election Administration, specializing in Appropriate Information Technology Application in accordance with needs assessment."

Other considerations which observers say make holding the elections this year difficult, is the intention to introduce the characteristic of accountability in the electoral system as recommended by the Constitution Reform Commission. Alexander told Stabroek News that accountability indicated a direct relationship between a particular constituency and the elected representative.

However, he said that because all the neighbourhoods had already been delineated, creating the various constituencies should not present a major obstacle provided that the government did not require substantial changes to what was already in place.