By Mark DaCosta- The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have issued a press statement dated February 28, 2025, urging the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to support the immediate engagement of biometric experts by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) ahead of the upcoming elections.
In their statement, the opposition criticises Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo for his resistance to implementing biometric technology for voter registration and verification. They highlight a perceived inconsistency, noting that after the PPP’s defeat in 2015, Jagdeo advocated for both fingerprint biometrics and electronic voting. The opposition contends that his current opposition to digital biometrics is contradictory and aimed at preserving an outdated election system susceptible to manipulation.
Addressing Jagdeo’s concern that empowering presiding officers with biometric systems could lead to voter disenfranchisement, the opposition asserts that such fears are unfounded. They argue that with appropriate legal frameworks, clear procedures, thorough training for officers, and the presence of party scrutineers at polling stations, the integrity of the voting process can be maintained.
Recognising the ongoing debate and public confusion surrounding digital biometrics, the opposition proposes that GECOM engage a reputable international firm to provide expert advice on the technology’s implementation, best practices, and feasible timelines. They believe that such expertise could be secured promptly and urge the PPP to demonstrate their commitment to fair elections by supporting this initiative.
The statement also addresses allegations made by Jagdeo regarding the opposition’s stance on installing cameras at polling stations. The opposition clarifies that they do not support this measure, citing concerns that it could be used by the PPP to intimidate voters. As such, says the opposition, Jagdeo’s assertion in this regard is simply not true.
This call for biometric integration is not new. In November 2024, the Joint Opposition, comprising the PNCR, the Alliance For Change (AFC), and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), emphasised their support for the full implementation of biometric technology throughout the electoral process. They advocated for digital fingerprint capture during voter registration and verification at polling stations to prevent multiple registrations and voter impersonation. The Joint Opposition expressed their readiness to support necessary constitutional and statutory changes to achieve this goal.
Despite these calls, GECOM Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh (Ret’d) announced in January 2025 that implementing a biometric system for the upcoming elections was not feasible. She cited the need for constitutional amendments and the proximity of the elections as significant challenges. This decision has been met with criticism from opposition leaders, who question the basis of her conclusion and express concerns about potential biases within GECOM’s leadership.
The PPP administration has also dismissed the opposition’s concerns. General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo described the push for biometrics as a political maneuver designed to undermine confidence in the electoral process. He suggested that introducing such technology could lead to confusion and disenfranchisement at polling stations, potentially serving as a pretext for the opposition to claim electoral fraud.
On the other hand, the opposition maintains that integrating biometric technology is essential for ensuring transparent and credible elections. They argue that the PPP’s reluctance to adopt such measures not only raises questions about the ruling party’s commitment to electoral integrity but also suggests that the PPP may have sinister motives with regard to illegally manipulating the outcome of the elections in favour of the PPP.
