With the clock ticking toward Guyana’s General and Regional Elections on September 1, 2025, three of the country’s most respected civic institutions—the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Institute For Action Against Discrimination (IFAAD), and Transparency International (Guyana)—have issued a powerful and urgent joint statement demanding immediate electoral and constitutional reform. Their message is unflinching: unless critical changes are made, Guyana risks descending into political turmoil, democratic erosion, and civic unrest.
“A Date Is Not Enough”
While acknowledging President Irfaan Ali’s formal announcement of the election date, the organisations warned that setting a day is not a substitute for building trust. They insist that free, fair, and credible elections cannot be achieved without first addressing deep-rooted institutional weaknesses.
“Credible elections require more than just the setting of a date,” the joint statement asserts. “We expect all electoral processes to be conducted in full accordance with the Constitution, electoral laws, and the rights of citizens.”
A System Under Strain
The groups pointed to three central threats:
- Operational Deficiency at GECOM – The Guyana Elections Commission, they argue, lacks the technical and managerial capacity to deliver credible elections under its current structure.
- Neglected Reform Commitments – Key recommendations from the European Union’s 2020 Election Observation Mission, the Organization of American States (OAS), and CARICOM have been ignored or sidelined. These reports identified systemic flaws—many of which remain unaddressed.
- A Bloated and Unreliable Voters List – With the Official List of Electors (OLE) standing at 738,484 registered voters in March 2025, the list now mirrors Guyana’s entire population estimate of 750,000–758,000. Given that a large portion of the population is under the voting age, this figure raises grave concerns about electoral fraud and list manipulation.
The situation, they note, is worsened by the government’s delay in releasing the 2022 National Census data, which has obstructed a clear understanding of the country’s current demographic realities.
A Call for Legislative Action
The joint statement lays out a bold, three-point reform agenda:
- Amend the Constitution and Electoral Laws: To introduce biometric voter verification, conduct a transparent house-to-house registration, and remove unverified voters from the roll.
- Restructure GECOM: Replace the Carter Formula—seen as outdated and politicised—with a new model ensuring technical independence, impartiality, and leadership accountability.
- Implement Key Reform Reports: Fully enact the EU, OAS, and CARICOM recommendations to align Guyana’s electoral practices with international standards.
“These reports share many similar concerns,” the statement notes, “and they must no longer be treated as optional advice.”
A Nation at the Crossroads
The groups issued a final, emphatic warning: time is running out.
“The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. With just months remaining before elections, Guyana stands at a dangerous crossroads. The warning signs are clear—an inflated voters list, a weakened elections commission, and years of neglected reforms.”
If left unaddressed, they say, these failures could spark political instability and a crisis of public confidence. They urge all elected officials, parliamentary bodies, and civil society leaders to reconvene the National Assembly immediately and begin the work of protecting the democratic process.
“Inaction is not neutrality—it is complicity in the erosion of democracy. The time to protect Guyana’s future is now.”
The joint statement is more than a policy demand—it is a call to conscience. At stake is not only the integrity of the 2025 elections, but the very foundation of Guyana’s democratic society.
See full statement below:
Joint Statement: Urgent Call for Constitutional and Electoral Reforms Ahead of General and Regional Elections
We, the undersigned organisations, acknowledge the announcement by His Excellency President Irfaan Ali of September 1, 2025, as the date for Guyana’s General and Regional Elections. As citizens of Guyana, we expect that all actions related to elections—General, Regional, and Local—be conducted in full accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, the country’s electoral laws, and the rights of its citizens, while upholding the principles necessary to ensure free, fair, and credible elections. In this regard, we stress that credible elections require more than just the setting of a date.
Our electoral system faces profound challenges that threaten its integrity:
- Operational Deficiencies: The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) lacks the managerial and technical capacity to deliver free, fair, and credible elections.
- Unaddressed Reforms: Critical recommendations such as from 2020 European Union Election Observation Mission, Organisations of American States and CARICOM—designed to rectify systemic flaws—remain unimplemented.
- Inflated Voters List: The current list equals or exceeds Guyana’s projected population. As of March 2025, Guyana’s Official List of Electors (OLE) stands at 738,484 registered voters. This figure is notably high, considering Guyana’s population is estimated at approximately 750,000 or 758,000.
Given that a significant portion of the population is under the legal voting age, this discrepancy raises concerns about the accuracy and integrity of the voter roll. The situation is further complicated by the government’s delay in releasing the 2022 National Population and Housing Census data, which has prevented a clear understanding of the current demographic landscape.
We therefore urgently call upon: His Excellency President Irfan Ali, The Honourable Aubrey Norton, Opposition Leader, All Parliamentary Representatives and Civil Society Stakeholders to immediately reconvene the National Assembly and enact the following reforms:
- Constitutional & Legislative Amendments: To mandate biometric voter verification at polling stations, ensure transparent house-to-house registration, and remove unverified voters.
- GECOM Restructuring: Replace the outdated Carter Formula with a new framework guaranteeing impartiality, technical independence, and decisive leadership.
- Recommendations: Fully implement the 2020 EU EOM, OAS, and CARICOM reports to align GECOM’s operations with international best practices. It should be noted that these reports share many similar concerns regarding the electoral process.
Conclusion:
The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. With just months remaining before the September 1, 2025, elections, Guyana stands at a dangerous crossroads. Failing to enact the necessary constitutional and electoral reforms threatens not only the credibility of the upcoming polls but the very fabric of our democratic society. The warning signs are clear—an inflated voters list, a weakened elections commission, and years of neglected reforms have created the conditions for political instability, civic unrest, and a deepening crisis of public confidence.
We call on every elected representative, every institution of governance, and every conscientious citizen to act decisively. The window for meaningful reform is rapidly closing. Inaction is not neutrality—it is complicity in the erosion of democracy. The time to protect Guyana’s future is now. Let us rise above division, fulfill our constitutional duty, and deliver to the people of Guyana the free, fair, and credible elections they rightfully deserve.
Signed:
Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC)
Institute For Action Against Discrimination (IFAAD)
Transparency International (Guyana)
