Holding credible elections even if delayed far more important than rushing through flawed elections-WPA

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA), in a statement issued yesterday, strongly criticised the current budget preparation process, calling it discriminatory, undemocratic and prone to corruption.

The party argues that it is unacceptable for a small group at the top of government to dictate the spending priorities of a $1.382 trillion ($US 6.6 billion) national budget in a country as divided as Guyana.

The WPA sees the budget process as a vital part of the broader democratic process and urges the government to involve local government bodies, trade unions, opposition parties, and civil society organisations in shaping the budget.

The WPA’s opinion resonates with many Guyana who have been calling on the government to engage in the politics of “inclusionary democracy” as mandated by the Constitution of Guyana, and expressly spelt out at Article 13.

The WPA is also calling for legislation that would require the government to integrate these broader inputs into the final budget. Furthermore, the party insists that the completed budget be submitted to members of the National Assembly at least two months before the debate, to allow adequate time for review.

GECOM and readiness for elections

On the matter of credible elections, WPA voiced its support for the Alliance For Change’s (AFC’s) recent report on the ongoing standoff with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), particularly its conclusion that the public has lost confidence in the commission’s ability to deliver fair elections.

The AFC, in a very critical review of GECOM’s readiness to hold the next General and Regional Elections, noted the agency’s failure to conduct any meaningful review of its operations since the 2020 election debacle.

Moreover, the AFC said, GECOM had ignored key recommendations put forth by the international observer missions, and is hamstrung by internal bickering, which is undermining the professionalism and credibility of the body tasked with overseeing Guyana’s elections.

The WPA holds GECOM Chair, Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh responsible for the current deadlock at the agency and reiterated its stance that the chair’s ruling against the implementation of biometrics must not stand.

The party said it intends to pursue mass action, international lobbying, and potential court action to pressure GECOM into reconsidering its position.

WPA condemned suggestions from the government that opposition actions could disrupt the elections, calling them a veiled threat of repression. The party insists that holding credible elections, even if delayed, is far more important than rushing through flawed elections.

Addressing speculation about a broad opposition coalition, WPA reaffirmed its commitment to joining forces with other opposition parties to defeat the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP). While acknowledging that the party has some electoral support, WPA  said it believes that a coalition offers the best chance to unseat the PPP and move towards a truly national government.

And on the issue of its numerical strength the WPA acknowledged that though small in number its constituency can be pivotal in determining a winning majority. The WPA shared that it is the collective strength of people and their organisations that is key to overcoming the current political challenges and achieving a fairer, more unified government.