Local government election delay in Guyana

A senior Guyanese government official is reporting that voters may have to wait longer to cast their ballots in local government elections due in that country.



Yesterday Cabinet Secretary Roger Luncheon announced that the overdue elections are likely to be further delayed because the Guyana Elections Commission is behind in its preparations for the polls.



Mr Luncheon said the commission is yet to finalize the list of eligible voters and produce and distribute National Identification Cards.



He also said the government’s delays in completing new legislation as part of its reform of the local government system, are also contributing to the hold-up.



The Guyanese government has come under fire for delaying local government elections, which were last held in 1993.



The country’s election commission is reportedly looking at an early 2010 date for the polls.