The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has raised serious alarms over what it calls a deeply flawed Voter’s List ahead of the upcoming national elections, demanding urgent action to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
At a public engagement in December 2024, the GTUC highlighted the continuing issue of voter registration inaccuracies, with the Voter’s List swelling from over 718,000 in mid-2024 to a staggering 735,000 in the Preliminary Voter’s List for January 2025, published by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The union expressed concerns that this figure could grow further, intensifying doubts about the list’s accuracy.
Need for greater transparency
This growth in voter registration has raised serious questions, especially given the last official census took place in 2012, and there has been no update since. The GTUC is calling for greater transparency, noting that such a dramatic increase in voters—up by nearly 75,000 from the 2020 elections—is concerning in the absence of a more recent population count.
GTUC also raised concerns about comments made by President Irfaan Ali and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), who have predicted a “landslide victory” for their party in the upcoming elections. The GTUC warned that these bold claims, coupled with unresolved issues surrounding the Voter’s List, cast doubt on the fairness and credibility of the election process.
In addition to advocating for the inclusion of biometric data in the electoral system, the GTUC is demanding a thorough cleansing of the Voter’s List to address what it describes as compromised registrations. According to the union, their concerns have been supported by both PPP/C members and international observers who have reviewed the list.
110 of 119 voters share the same address
One of the most glaring examples raised by the GTUC is the sudden surge in registered voters in District #4, specifically in polling division 414115, known as “Ogle Sugar Estate.” While there were only 10 registered voters in 2011, the number ballooned to 117 in 2024 and further increased to 119 in January 2025.
Alarmingly, 110 of these 119 voters share the same address—Lot 5A, a barrack-style accommodation, which is typically not allowed for registration purposes. The GTUC claims these voters, most of whom are foreign nationals brought into the country for government projects, are not permanent residents, raising concerns about the legitimacy of their registration.
The union also pointed to inconsistencies in the identification card numbers of these 110 voters, suggesting possible manipulation of the Voter’s List. Adding to the controversy, 81 of these 110 foreign nationals have reportedly applied for and received government cash grants, while local workers, including cane cutters, have yet to be registered or verified for similar benefits.
The GTUC is calling for full transparency on the number of foreign nationals in Guyana, how long they are expected to stay, and their inclusion in the 2024 national budget. The union believes these foreign nationals’ presence, particularly in the electoral process, must be thoroughly reviewed.
Calls for addressing the bloated list have been made by both local and international stakeholders but GECOM and the government have largely ignored the growing concerns. The lack of action has fueled widespread fear among Guyanese citizens, many of whom question whether they can trust the electoral process.
As the elections approach, it is clear why Guyanese are rightfully fearful that the process will not be free, fair, or credible. The GTUC made clear its intent to ensure that every citizen’s vote is counted and respected, and that the integrity of our electoral process is maintained.”
The federated body is calling on all Guyanese—both at home and abroad—to demand a full, transparent review of the Voter’s List, insisting that the democratic rights of all citizens be preserved in a truly free, fair and credible election.
