Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Guyana to register thousands of new voters

Guyana's Parliament has agreed to let the country's elections commission reopen the voter registration process to include thousands of voters without birth certificates.

The decision comes in advance of general elections scheduled for December.

An estimated 6,000 to 10,000 voters in the South American country do not have birth certificates. The majority live in a remote northwest region near the border with Venezuela.

Opposition legislator Khemraj Ramjattan says Thursday's vote is nothing more than a ploy to help President Bharrat Jagdeo delay the elections and extend his time in power.

The ruling People's Progressive Party is seeking its fifth consecutive five-year term. The constitution prohibits Jagdeo from seeking a third term.