As the biometric voter registration enters its second phase, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) Ward Coordinator for Constituency 108 in the Western Urban Lavalie Johnny has called for more sensitization for people to come out and register.
Speaking in one of the registration centers at the Saint Anthony’s Boys Primary School, Johnny said despite the turnout is encouraging, “people need to know that we have moved from the Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) to the Saint Anthony’s boys for fifteen days. People are not aware that we have moved here”, he said.
The NEC ward Coordinator stated that most of the people have registered at the Freetown Secondary School for Girls, which is closer to the Saint Anthony’s boys, adding that over 100 people have been registered.
Lavalie noted that they are not experiencing problems with the machines but with the people, especially women with gorgeous hairstyles and facial make-up. “The machine will not take them with their hairstyles and make-up”.
The Ward Coordinator reiterated that parallel registration started in the morning hours when they commenced at the Church of Christ and Saint Anthony’s Boys but stopped it. He also stated that they were discovering underage registration, but they have been asked to come with their birth certificates. He urged people to come out and do their registration.
Party agents expressed satisfaction with the process so far, but stated that they are vigilant and performing their duties. One of the registrants, Hawa Kamara who is taking part in elections for the first time said that she was happy to be part of the process, adding that though the process is a little bit slow but will exercise patience.
One of the boys who were rejected said that though he cannot produce his birth certificates, yet he insisted that he is eighteen years old.
The gate keeper at Saint Anthony said he could not sleep because people came to the center as early as 3 am banging on the gates to enter the school compound.
By Abibatu Kamara
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