Opposition rejects UK High Commissioner going against Guyanese wishes for clean voter list

The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) is pushing back against British High Commissioner, Ms. Jane Miller, saying the present bloated voters list is acceptable for elections.

The Opposition, civil society and observers mission to the 2020 General and Regional Elections have all criticised the list. CARICOM went as far as recommending the creation of “a new voters’ registry especially given the suspicion that the 2020 register was bloated, a suspicion which is not without merit.”

Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton, reminded that all the observers to the 2020 elections underscored the need for a clean voters list and that the Opposition has called for biometrics at the place of poll. Norton is therefore requesting Miller inform Guyanese if the safeguards she is referring to include biometrics at the place of poll.

Miller in her comments as carried in Demerara Waves (November 12) said from what she has been told she is satisfied with the list and that there are mechanisms in place to avoid voters’ impersonation.

There were serious concerns the 2020 Elections had voter impersonation where persons were given identification cards to vote for others, the dead voted and persons not within the jurisdiction on Election day voted.

The opposition leader made clear to the high commissioner that while they pursue good relations with all countries, they are committed to ensuring decisions are made by the people of Guyana and therefore abhor the attempt by any diplomat to impose their will on the people of Guyana.

“The Guyanese people have long concluded that the present voters list is bloated and therefore we need no one to tell us that with safeguards, the list can be used.”

What is more worrying, said Norton, is the High Commissioner was informed about the reality surrounding the list when the APNU+AFC met with the ABCE countries. “It is interesting that the ABCE countries chose to be briefed together, but the High Commissioner chose to go it all alone in making her ill-informed comments.”

Inspite of the UK’s position the Opposition has reiterated they will continue to struggle for a clean voters list since credible elections demand a credible list