The Guyana Trades Union Movement started the fight for one man one vote (universal adult suffrage) in 1926; 99 years later we retain an abiding interest in the cause and integrity of the process. We stand prepared to defend and safeguard it.
The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is on public record stressing the need for the cleansing, of what we describe as a deeply flawed Voters List which at the time comprised over 718,00 voters and has since risen to 735, 000 on the Preliminary Voters List of January 2025, as published on GECOM’s website, dated 18th December 2024. By the time elections are held, this list is expected to rise beyond this mark – if logic follows its natural course.
The List started with 660,000 electors in the 2020 elections. This was revised to a total 718,000 as at July, 2024.The Preliminary List of Electors for January 2025 totaling over 735,000 voters.
The last official census was in 2012, prior to that it was 2002. The questions that naturally arise for this Congress are: where is the 2022 census? What is the accurate ethnic distribution of our population? Why has President Irfaan Ali, coming on the heels of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, boasted of a ‘landslide victory for the PPP”….and that party winning the next elections by a “huge margin?”
This Congress further states that whilst we continue to call for biometrics to serve as one of the measures to deliver free, fair and credible elections, we wish to reiterate our belief that the current Voters List is corrupt and must be cleansed.
Evidence shows List compromised
The GTUC is in possession of valuable information from fraternal dissatisfied and disenchanted friends within PPP/C and our international partners who have since conducted a thorough review of the list. The review shows grave evidence of a compromised List
Go online to the GECOM website. Find district No#4. Scroll down to the polling division number 414115, bearing the Division name “Ogle Sugar Estate.”
There you would see a total of 119 voters. Notably, in 2011 there were 10 voters; 2015=18 voters; 2020= 9 voters; 2023 Local Govt= 9 voters; then in 2024 PLE = 117 voters. Finally, in 2025 January the first PLE shows 119 voters.
In examining the details one will find the following:
110 of them have the same address meaning they are all; accommodated – not residing; not domiciled – in the same address [lot 5a ……];
They are all males;
Their occupations is as follows:
it is barrack-room type accommodation like our policemen and soldiers who are not permitted to use their barracks as an address for registration;- these 110 voters are not paying utility bills, nor taxes because they are project workers. The agency who recruited them from abroad is paying rent, and bills. That agency is the PPP/C government;
- look at the numbers of their identification cards and note how they fall into blocks. Is this not manipulative? It certainly appears so to the GTUC .
- Additionally, Our Probe Further Revealed That Of These 110 Foreign Nationals, 81 Of Them Submitted Their Request For Our Cash Grant. As Of Yesterday, 58 Of Those Were Verified Out Of Which Cheques Are Already Printed For 54 Of Them Whilst Cheques For The Othfour(4) Are To Be Prepared.
- Meanwhile, Workers Including Cane Cutters Are Yet To Be Registered Moreover/Much Less Verified As Being Qualified For Receiving The Cash Grant Or Have Their Cheques Printed. Oh No! They Have To Wait. This Is According To Minister Parag Who Last Week When Asked By Residents In That Region, Informed Them That They Will Be Registered At Some Later Date.
How Could This Be Right? Is This Caring For Our Workers? Why Are Foreign Nationals Given Priority To Receive Our Patrimony To Which They Are Not Entitled When Our Workers Have To Wait For A Later Date – Maybe After The Budget Is Read.
Would The Foreign Nationals Be Catered For In This Budget? Were The Considered In The 2024 Budget. If So, How Many? In Fact, The Gtuc Would Like To Know How Many Foreign Nationals Are In This Country And How Long Are They Expected To Remain?
GTUC’s demands for free, fair and transparent elections free from fear include:
- Sanitize list of electors
- Biometric
- Immediate release of the 2022 census
- List of all Commonwealth foreign national in Guyana, disaggregated according to nationality
- Reform of GECOM
