As Guyana moves closer to another general and regional elections, one question weighs heavily on the minds of citizens: can we trust the process to be free and fair?
For many, the answer is far from comforting. The PPP regime has shown, time and again, a willingness to bend the rules, exploit state resources, and undermine institutions for its own survival. With the enormous machinery of government at its disposal, the playing field is already tilted. The troubling question is whether the People’s Progressive Party, aided by a pliant GECOM, is preparing once again to manipulate the system in its favour.
We have witnessed how state resources are used to curry favour, how contracts are awarded to political loyalists, and how entire communities are divided by promises of handouts. In such an environment, can voters truly exercise free choice without fear, intimidation, or manipulation?
Equally concerning is GECOM’s credibility. The electoral body should stand as a neutral guardian of democracy, yet its track record inspires little confidence. Accusations of bias, inconsistencies in the voter roll, and questionable decisions during past elections have left scars on our political landscape. Unless GECOM demonstrates true independence and transparency, the perception will persist that it is acting not as a referee but as an accomplice.
Democracy demands more. Guyanese deserve an election where every ballot counts, where results reflect the will of the people, and where no party can exploit loopholes in the system. The international community, civil society, and ordinary citizens must demand vigilance. Observers must be invited, systems must be audited, and GECOM must be held to the highest standards.
The PPP may believe it can rig history in its favour. But the people of Guyana must insist that the future belongs to them, not to a regime clinging to power at all costs.
