Guinea-Bissau CNE workers denounce lack of resources months before elections

Fernando Borja Monteiro, president of the National Electoral Commission’s (CNE) base workers’ union, said on Thursday that polling station staff were concerned about a lack of funds in the months leading up to legislative elections.

“There are almost 79 days left before the legislative elections, and the CNE does not have working capital, for example, money from the general state budget to pay for the functioning of the CNE, namely for the purchase of paper, toner, fuel and Internet payments,” said Lusa Borja Monteiro. .

The trade unionist also stated that the government did not disburse the amount allocated to the NIS, which is “usually” allocated six months before the elections, and which serves to subsidize the work of employees of this institution in Bissau and in the regional electoral commissions.

The union president commends the government’s efforts to fund the voter registration process, but called for funds to be made available “to ensure normal operations before the June 4 elections.”

Fernando Borja Monteiro said the union met with the CNE executive secretariat, to whom he communicated his concerns, indicating that he was still awaiting a response from the Ministry of Finance.

The president of the CNE Workers’ Union expressed regret that the lack of funds is hindering work, citing the lack of civic education for voters, as was the case in past elections, as an example.

In a statement, the union acknowledges that it will issue a strike notice if there is no response from the government within 15 days.

Asked about the possibility, the president of the CNE workers’ union said that “everything is possible”, but stressed that the organization’s employees are determined to do everything to ensure that the elections take place on the date set by Guinean President Oumaro Sissoko. Embalo.