And as we’ve reported, the Elections and Boundaries Department will tomorrow deploy 1500 public officers to 341 polling stations spread out among the 31 constituencies. Those public officers are at the heart of the democratic process, but today President of the Public Service Jacqueline Willoughby raised serious questions about the planning by the Elections and Boundaries Department. She told Keith Swift that the department is, to say the least, disorganized.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Yesterday armed BDF soldiers stood guard outside – and inside - the halls and corridors of the Elections and Boundaries Office were congested.
Ruth Meighan, Chief Elections Officer
“As you can see today, how long have you been waiting? At least. We are actually talking to our returning officers, our election workers and giving
them their supplies.”
Chief Elections Officer Ruth Meighan told us she had everything under control but PSU President Jacqueline Willoughby strongly disagrees.
Jackie Willoughby, PSU President
“I feel that it is haphazard Keith. I say this because as we speak people are still receiving letters and phone calls them that either their polling stations have shifted or they are supposed to work. We are one day before the election. In the past my experience has been that at least two weeks before election you have a published list to say where you’ll be working. That even aids in the proxy process. But just imagine – as at the 4th of February proxy was closed. So if you tell me that my polling station is switched or changed, particularly if it is out district, or if it is in a village, how do you expect me to get a proxy vote. I have a little issue with that. That is haphazard.
I want to make it resoundingly clear- it is not a privilege to vote, it is a right so I will advise ever public officers who have not been given ample opportunity to sort out their proxy matters – to go and vote before you go to do your work. You go to do your work but go vote because that is your right.”
Willoughby also has issues with the stipends, the placement of teachers in the election process, and the selection of election officers.
Jackie Willoughby,
“I have received a ton load of complaints from officers who’ve been chosen for the first time in their public office career to work as presiding officers. Yes I have to admit there have been meetings from the Election and Boundaries, I will not say there hasn’t been any meetings but clearly these people are walking away with not a clear understanding. What happened to senior staff who have consistently worked elections, why not put them in those posts? I have to publicly say how disappointed I am in the haphazard nature of the election process. People don’t even know where to vote, some people don’t even know where to vote.”
Willoughby says the blames for all this falls squarely on the laps of Elections Chief Ruth Meighan.
Jackie Willoughby,
“In my view Elections and Boundaries which has public officers does manage the process however the officers within the Elections and Boundaries work as well with instructions. So I have no other place to put my blame than the CEO of Elections and Boundaries. I know it is her first time and I know the work may be overwhelming but unfortunately this is a general election and this speaks to country. So we don’t have much room for errors here.”
Willoughby also raised concerns about the inclusion of teachers in the election process since says teachers aren’t supposed to work on Election Day. The PSU is also against open vote government workers who will be working for political parties on Election Day. We should note that as mentioned in the story, there were armed BDF soldiers at the Complez Building yesterday. There were two in the office with the chief elections officer, one at the door, and three downstairs. When we spoke to him this evening, Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission Karl Menzies he knows of no reason why the armed soldiers were there.
