MP Janvier YAHOUEDEHOU’s concerns
THE DEBATE OVER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VOTERS REGISTRY COMPUTERIZATION (LEPI) BEFORE THE 2011 ELECTIONS DOMINATES THE CONTROVERSY IN PARLIAMENT. SOME VOICES HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF THE OPERATION. CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET TO GET A RELIABLE COMPUTERIZED ELECTORAL REGISTRY WHICH CAN PREVENT POSTELECTORAL CONTESTATIONS. THE MP, FCBE MEMBER WHO IS AN EXPERT ON COMPUTER PUTS A DAMPER ON THE SUCCESS OF THE OPERATION.
In a statement, the MP Janvier YAHOUEDEHOU expressed serious reservations about the willingness of the Head of State to make effective the computerization of voters’ registry (LEPI) for the combined 2011 presidential and legislative elections. According to him, the operation’s success depends on the completion of the Administrative Census with Civil Status Vocation (in French, Recensement Administratif à Vocation Etat Civil: RAVEC) initiated by the Government. In his understanding, electoral registration should be performed on the basis of birth certificate.
Yet, as for today, all Beninese do not have birth certificates despite the implementation of RAVEC. The project has limited the delivery of this paper to children under 15. Then, the MP finds it necessary to stop for a moment to review the work done to determine the number of Beninese who have managed to obtain the identification papers.
In terms of human resources, the MP raises enough questions about the availability of information technology specialists who will be needed for the project. It must be retained that MPs members of G4, G13 and Force Clé alliance found it difficult to have someone for computer engineer position at SAP/CENA. Most people with this profile have declined the offer because the appointment would not be profitable for them. Faced with this difficulty, the chairman of the parliamentary group “ADD nation and development,” Jean Baptiste EDAY gave up the position to the governmental coalition. It means that high-level computer engineer is not common. The MP suggests a directory of computer scientists be established in order to ascertain their number.
In technical terms, the MP also has concerns. The 4-month period proposed by the experts for the completion of the census mapping, data exploitation of the national agricultural census does not seem normal. He has also expressed concern about the qualification and training of census agents. Beyond all, the MP Janvier YAHOUEDEOU has the merit to raise a substantial problem as a specialist in the field. Engineer and PhD in computer science, the MP has highlighted shortcomings in the process as recommended by the experts. His conclusion is that the LEPI may not be available before 2011. During UNDP National Convention in Bohicon, he said there had been prerequisites to be met. However, according to one of the initiators of the draft law on the LEPI, MP Karim CHABI SIKA, the remarks made by the MP Janvier YAHOUEDEHOU are political considerations from a technician. He criticized YAHOUDEHOU for not putting in the shoes of a legislator. It would have been desirable that the MP turns his concerns in proposed legislation to correct deficiencies stated his peer who shares some of his concerns. He considers that YAHOUEDEHOU’s position on the LEPI issue does not solve the problem.
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Fortune AGUEH
Translated by Alfred Cossi CHODATON
