The Joint Opposition (JO), comprising the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the Alliance For Change (AFC), and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), issued a statement on November 7, 2024, following a meeting of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on November 5, 2024. The meeting discussed the feasibility of utilising biometric technology in elections, based on a report prepared by GECOM’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud, upon the recommendation of Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander.
Opposition parties expressed continued support for implementation of biometrics
While the discussion on biometrics was welcomed, the Joint Opposition emphasised that it is just a small step toward the ultimate goal of implementing a fully digital system to ensure free and fair elections. The opposition parties expressed their continued support for the complete integration of biometrics into the electoral process, including the capture of fingerprints during voter registration and the use of digitized fingerprint identification at polling stations.
The opposition’s stance is clear: they are prepared to work with GECOM and other stakeholders to ensure that all necessary constitutional or statutory changes are made to facilitate the full implementation of biometric systems. They believe that the concerns raised in the CEO’s report, while valid, are not insurmountable, and are ready to engage in further discussions to address these issues.
The JO also reiterated the importance of involving stakeholders in the process, calling on GECOM to ensure prompt consultations before finalizing the next steps. This engagement, according to the opposition, is crucial to ensuring that the final implementation is in the best interest of all involved, particularly the Guyanese people.
In their statement, the Joint Opposition reaffirmed their commitment to supporting their commissioners and underscored their dedication to achieving free, fair, and credible elections in Guyana. They emphasized the importance of biometric technology in preventing multiple voter registrations and voter impersonation, ultimately strengthening the electoral process.
However, since the release of the Joint Opposition’s statement, GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, in January 2025, in a statement informed biometric voting would not be implemented in this year’s elections, citing need for legislative change among other issues. Despite the opposition’s call for its inclusion more than five years ago, which was supported by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) while in opposition, Singh has firmly rejected the proposal for this election cycle.
Biometrics reduce voter fraud; it is doable in Guyana
Citizens and civil society organisations have continued to call on the opposition to remain resolute in their demand for biometrics. Evidence has shown other countries have successfully implemented biometrics as a mechanism to prevent multiple voting and voter fraud. Ghana, with a voter roll of approximately 15 million implemented biometrics in six-weeks, allowing the country to meet its General Elections Date on December 7, 2012.
Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) General Secretary Lincoln Lewis, and businessman Dr. Terrence Campbell said if there is need for legislative change to realise biometrics voting, it is doable and GECOM must get it done even if it means putting off the elections for a few months. Campbell also proposed the Opposition intensify their demand for biometrics and take a page out of the book of PPP leader, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, who internationalised the party’s demand for electoral reform. On the matter of deferring the elections due to need to implement biometric, Lewis said the lesson in 1990 of President Desmond Hotye and Opposition (Minority) Leader Cheddi Jagan coming together to put country first and achieve electoral reform, must guide the nation’s action
The WPA, in a statement issued Monday, announced that it will intensify the call for biometrics but did not outline specific plans or actions to achieve this.
The opposition has been organising weekly protests in front of GECOM, but it remains uncertain how they will successfully push for the implementation of biometrics, particularly as a significant section of society continues to demand it. The situation now leaves many questioning what further steps the opposition will take to make biometrics a reality for the upcoming elections. What is undoubtedly sure is that the Opposition has the support for the people, who only leadership on the matter.
—————————-
See Joint Opposition full statement below
JOINT OPPOSITION (PNCR/APNU, AFC, and WPA) STATEMENT ON THE USE OF BIOMETRICS AT ELECTIONS
The Joint Opposition (JO) has noted that GECOM, at its meeting on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024, commenced the discussion on the feasibility study on utilizing biometrics technology in elections that was prepared by its CEO, Vishnu Persaud, on the recommendation of GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander. That the subject of biometrics has remained on the agenda of GECOM, despite sustained efforts at excluding it, is testimony to the will and persistence of the opposition parties and their commissioners. The submission and discussion of the CEO’s report on biometrics, though welcomed, constitute only a small step towards the goal of producing a clean voter list and introducing fingerprint biometrics as part of the voting process for the next and future General, Regional and Local Government elections.
Let us re-emphasize that the Joint Opposition supports the full implementation of biometrics throughout the election process: that is, the capture of fingerprints digitally in the registration process (to enhance the quality of fingerprints available to the Commission and aid in the prevention of multiple registration) and digitized fingerprint identification at the place of poll (to prevent voter impersonation or identity theft).
We express our preparedness to lend support to all the necessary stages to arrive at this outcome, including enacting constitutional and statutory changes, if necessary. We believe that the technical and other concerns the CEO has identified in his report do not amount to insurmountable or irresolvable issues. We stand ready to engage in all necessary discussions at the GECOM level, the parliamentary level, and/or at the inter-party level to resolve these concerns to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, including the Guyanese people.
We recognize and support GECOM’s position that stakeholder involvement should be integral to the process. In that regard, we call upon the Commission to promptly engage these stakeholders before finalizing its internal discussions on the way forward.
The Joint Opposition wishes to express our support for our commissioners and remain steadfast in pursuing the goal of free, fair, credible, and efficient elections in Guyana.
November 7, 2024
