-76% distributed so farThe Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has announced that it has implemented several measures to replace all National Identification Cards which have unacceptable photographs.GECOM, in a statement yesterday, acknowledged that some cards with photographs,Cheap NFL Jerseys co, which do not meet commonly acceptable standards, were produced for persons who were registered during the 2008 house-to-house Registration exercise.At December 14, GECOM says that 327,225 were uplifted by the respective registrants.?This represents the delivery of 76.2 per cent of the total number of ID Cards produced for distribution.“The Commission accepts that, notwithstanding the quality control procedures which were installed throughout the three eight-hours shift system to ensure that ID Cards of the highest quality were produced, some ID Cards with photographs of objectionable quality bypassed this component of the production system and were dispatched among cards of superior standard for distribution.”GECOM, saying that this is a regrettable state of affairs, disclosed that it is presently engaged in implementing several deliberate remedial measures with the objective of replacing all ID Cards with unacceptable photographs.“This matter has been and continues to be deliberated upon extensively at the level of the Commission, with technical input from the senior management staff of the Secretariat, with the aim of ensuring that corrective action is taken toward ensuring that an ID card of superlative quality is delivered to each registrant.”According to GECOM, inquiries into the nature of the problem revealed to the Commission that the completed ID Cards with unacceptable photographs are mainly from Registration District Number 4.“The Commission had earlier taken the purposeful decision to commence printing and distribution of ID Cards for registrants of this district simply because it is the Administrative Region with the largest number of registered persons,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, and was therefore likely to pose greater challenges in terms of achieving optimal distribution within the duration of the exercise.” Curative action, which was implemented immediately upon detection during the initial production stages, led to the problem not being replicated in a significant way in the other Registration Districts, the Commission stressed.Every ID Card Distribution Centre has been equipped with a digital camera,NFL Jerseys China Wholesale, with clear instructions for the relevant staff to retake registrants’ photographs which are found to be markedly dissimilar to the facial features of the registrants.“This measure will continue at the temporary distribution offices until the end of the exercise.Should any registrant collecting his/her ID Card, not be satisfied with the quality of the photograph because his/her facial features are not recognisable, a request could be made for the photograph to be re-taken on the spot for remedial action, culminating with the replacement of the ID Card with an acceptable photograph.”According to GECOM, the staff at the Distribution Centres will have a collective say on whether the request is justified or whether there is an attempt to abuse the system.“This measure of giving registrants the opportunity to have their photographs retaken (if found to be necessary) has resulted in 1,071 ID Cards with unacceptable photographs having been returned to the GECOM Secretariat as at December 14.? While this small number of faulty ID Cards have been returned to GECOM, 327,225 were uplifted by the respective registrants as at 14/Dec/2009.”GECOM noted that there could be ID Cards with unacceptable photographs among those already delivered.“Accordingly, affected persons will be afforded the opportunity to initiate remedial action during the conduct of the imminent Claims and Objections exercise for the upcoming Local Government Elections which will be carried out individually within all of the 71 Local Government Areas, i.e. 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and six Municipalities.? We urge such persons to take advantage of this opportunity.”GECOM also acknowledged yesterday that it has taken cognizance of complaints that staffers attached to some of the temporary distribution offices have been less than helpful in treating with requests from registrants for their photographs to be retaken.“Some such staff have reportedly refused to accommodate the requests on the falsehoods that (i) they are not in possession of a camera, (ii) the registrant would have to visit the main Registration Area Office to have his/her photograph retaken,Cheap Jerseys, or (iii) the photograph could be retaken only during the upcoming Claims and Objections exercises.”In view of this situation, GE