I just culled this from the Point. It is extremely important that Gambians not only register but that they register in record numbers. I do hope the opposition makes a push to get record numbers by using all media outlets to push this message to Gambians. This is much more important than the 'foregner' issue. Article as follows The Independent Electoral Commission will register thousands of Gambian today, as the announced nationwide voter registration kicks off. Gambians who attained the age of 18 and above will be registered. The voter registration exercise is part of the preparation for the parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for October 2001 and January 2002. Latest reports reaching The Point Newspaper say the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) has deployed its officials and party representatives to various registration centres across the country to monitor the exercise. Informed sources say the move is aimed at preventing non-Gambians from registering. The opposition UDP claimed that non Gambians, such as Senegalese and Guineans were registered in the last parliamentary and presidential and elections. A UDP official earlier told this newspaper that they would not allow a similar situation to be repeated. According to our sources, UDP’s National Secretary Lamin Waa Juwara had travelled to his home village Niamina Dunkunku village, where is expected to monitor the registration. The minority leader in the National Assembly Kemesseng Jammeh was also said to have travelled to his constituency Jarra West, where he is supposed to register. Political observes here say it is a crucial year for the Gambia. They called for free, fair and transparent elections. Sources close to the Independent Electoral Commission say about 900 electoral clerks have been appointed to take part in the voter registration. According our sources, the electoral clerks will be deployed to various parts of the country. Our sources say, political parties have the right to raise objections to people posing as Gambians. According to our sources such electoral disputes can be challenged in court. In another development, The Point has been reliably informed that the APRC, PDOIS, and NRP have also sent their representatives to registration centres. “The IEC requested all political parties to send their representatives to various registration centres, to monitor the exercise” said one source. It could be recalled that about 400,000 Gambians were registered in the last elections but political observers say the figure will change this year as the country’s population has increased dramatically in recent years. Before any person can be registered according to our sources he or she must produce a Gambian identity card, birth certificate passport or five elders must testify on behalf of the individual. Meanwhile, political observers have predicted constitutional crisis in the country. They say the move taken by the Jammenh administration to increase constituencies from 45 to 48 might seriously affect IEC’s redemacrcation of constituencies and ward boundaries. The observers cite the recent hijacking of IEC’s responsibilities by the APRC dominated legislature. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------