The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) is calling for an immediate and impartial investigation into the recent allegations of partisan interference within the Elections Commission (ERC). The call comes after one of the commission’s members, whose claims cannot be dismissed as politically motivated, accused the body of engaging in ethnic discrimination, contradicting its very mandate to oversee fairness and equality.
The issue surround the ERC sending a non-African representative to the United Nations Forum on People of African Decent scheduled for April 14-17, 2025
The commissioner’s serious charges suggest that the ERC, which is constitutionally tasked with ensuring equitable elections, may be complicit in the ethnic biases it is supposed to regulate. The WPA has long expressed concerns about political bias at the ERC, pointing to its selective actions against individuals from certain ethnic groups. The party specifically condemns the practice of appointing non-African representatives to lead delegations that are intended to represent African Guyanese interests abroad, labeling it as “reprehensible.”
The WPA urges the National Assembly, which oversees the ERC, to act swiftly and launch an investigation into these allegations, given their gravity and potential to undermine the commission’s legitimacy. The party stresses that these infractions must not be allowed to persist unchecked, and a transparent inquiry is necessary to restore confidence in the ERC’s role in Guyana’s democratic processes.
In addition to its calls for ERC scrutiny, the WPA has also condemned recent remarks made by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. Speaking at a rally to commemorate Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s death anniversary, Jagdeo declared that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) critical of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would no longer be eligible for government funding. The Vice President specifically singled out the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and Red Thread for their criticism of the government.
The WPA decries this stance as a blatant attack on democratic principles, calling it “unconstitutional and dictatorial.” The withdrawal of subventions from NGOs, including those representing African Guyanese communities such as the Critchlow Labor College and IDPADA-G, raises further alarm about the government’s efforts to stifle dissent. The party emphasises that state funds are not the property of any political party, and allegiance to the PPP should never be a prerequisite for accessing these resources.
WPA warns that these actions reflect a troubling consolidation of authoritarianism in Guyana, where government critics are systematically silenced and marginalised. The party calls on the nation to be vigilant and resist the erosion of democratic freedoms under the current administration.
