GECOM Chairperson’s resistance to Biometrics: A threat to democracy, says Lincoln Lewis

In his Eye on Guyana column, last Sunday, trade union leader Lincoln Lewis criticised the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, for “hiding behind legal technicalities” to avoid implementing biometrics in the upcoming General and Regional Elections. According to Lewis, Singh’s stance, reinforced by her legal counterpart Ralph Ramkarran, undermines efforts to ensure a free, fair, and credible election process, despite there being no legal barrier preventing the change.

Lewis highlights the growing demand for biometric voter identification as a necessary measure to protect Guyana’s democracy and ensure that every citizen’s rights are respected. The call for such reforms, according to Lewis, is not just a political objective but a necessity for an “inclusionary democracy” that guarantees every eligible citizen’s right to participate in the electoral process.

He points out that Ramkarran’s defense, citing Articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution, is flawed. While these articles outline voter qualifications, Lewis argues that they do not preclude the introduction of biometric technology. He further reminds Ramkarran that Article 159 was amended in 2001 through a constitutional change that did not require a referendum, setting a clear precedent for how such changes can be made again in 2025.

Despite these legal precedents, Lewis contends that the only thing preventing the implementation of biometrics is political will. He accuses those in power, including Singh and Ramkarran, of deliberately obstructing the reforms that are essential for maintaining the credibility of elections. “There is no legal barrier to revisiting the National Assembly to pass the necessary laws,” Lewis writes, emphasising that this lack of action is a result of political reluctance rather than any legal hindrance.

Lewis also calls out Singh for delaying the announcement that biometrics could not be implemented, framing it as a failure of responsibility to the people of Guyana. According to him, Singh’s failure to act now represents an abdication of her duty, a move that cannot be allowed to go unchecked. He stresses that GECOM has the legal authority to propose amendments and work with the National Assembly to implement biometric reforms.

Drawing historical parallels, Lewis recalls the 1990 agreement between President Desmond Hoyte and Opposition Leader Dr. Cheddi Jagan to amend laws that stabilized Guyana’s electoral system. He argues that similar urgent action is needed today to ensure Guyana’s future stability and growth.

In closing, Lewis, who is General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, reaffirms the commitment of trade unions to the fundamental principle of one-person-one-vote, a fight that dates back to 1926 under the leadership of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the Father of Trade Unionism in Guyana. He insists that progressive unions will continue to defend free and fair elections, honouring the legacy of Guyana’s National Hero.