The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has issued a statement expressing deep concern over the recent decision by Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM0 Chair, ret’d Justice Claudette Singh, to reject the use of biometrics in the upcoming general and regional elections. According to the WPA, this ruling could undermine the credibility of the elections. GECOM’s decision has sparked widespread opposition from not only the WPA but also other groups, including the labour movement, who have also voiced their disapproval.
In the statement, WPA asserts that the Chair’s decision, made in favour of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) commissioners, represents a direct blow to the prospects of free, fair, and credible elections in Guyana.
The WPA argues that this decision could lead to an election where the outcome is in question even before a single vote is cast. This, the party says, is a recipe for chaos and instability, and could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s future.
While the GECOM Chair maintained that there is no law preventing the use of biometrics, she argued that implementing biometric voter identification would be unconstitutional without new legislation.
The WPA, however, supports the call for swift legislative action, urging the National Assembly to pass the necessary laws to enable biometrics for the upcoming elections, even as they await a judicial review of the ruling.
The WPA also criticised the Chair’s claim that there is insufficient time to implement biometric voting, pointing out that GECOM has had years to prepare for this process but has repeatedly delayed it.
The WPA argued that the failure to adopt biometric safeguards, which were crucial in addressing fraud concerns highlighted by the 2020 election recount, lies solely at the feet of GECOM and the PPP commissioners.
This delay is neither accidental nor unforeseen; it is a deliberate attempt to frustrate the process and deny the Guyanese people the security of a free and fair election,” the WPA expressed. The party warned that “The choice between a compromised election that meets the constitutional deadline and a credible election that may not meet that deadline is a false and dangerous one.”
The WPA also strongly rejected the false dichotomy posed by GECOM, emphasising that the commission’s duty is to ensure elections that meet international standards of fairness and transparency. WPA is calling on the Joint Opposition to reject the ruling and mobilise public opinion to pressure GECOM to reverse its decision.
Further, the WPA’s statement also addressed the ongoing delay in the publication of the 2022 population census, noting that the PPP government has failed to release critical demographic data. The WPA stressed that the census is vital not only for electoral integrity but for the formulation of sound public policy and resource distribution. The party called on the government to immediately publish the results, insisting that Guyana should not go into another election without this crucial data.
The WPA reaffirmed that there can be no credible election in Guyana without, at a minimum, biometric identification, a verified voters list, and an impartial GECOM. The party has also urged the government to stop playing politics with the census and act decisively to protect the integrity of the democratic process.
The statement called for an immediate focus on securing a credible election and ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to prevent any further delay or manipulation of the process.
