By Mark DaCosta- In a candid interview with Village Voice News, Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), expressed grave concerns about the integrity of Guyana’s electoral process ahead of the upcoming regional and general elections, set for 2025. Lewis accused the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) of undermining democratic processes and manipulating the system to retain power.
One of Lewis’ primary concerns was the PPP’s apparent disregard for the principles of free and fair elections. While the party had previously called for a clean voters’ list when in opposition, Lewis said that in power, the PPP was engaging in tactics to manipulate the electoral system. “The PPP has signalled its intentions to engage in elections shenanigans that we cannot continue to allow – we must reject,” he stated, urging Guyanese to resist any attempts to subvert democracy.
Concentration of wealth and power under PPP regime
Lewis also criticised the growing concentration of wealth and power under the PPP regime, particularly following the discovery of oil. He argued that the government’s control of oil revenues has empowered the ruling PPP to form an alliance with big business, which, according to Lewis, has led to greater inequality among Guyanese.
“Big business interests have created the false narrative, in complicity with the PPP, that big business are the only creators of good jobs,” said Lewis, emphasising how these business elites were consolidating their power at the expense of ordinary, hard-working citizens. He expressed concern that the voices of the average Guyanese workers were being drowned out by the influence of wealth, with business leaders using their financial power to ensure that the PPP – widely viewed as fundamentally corrupt and anti-worker – remains in power.
The relationship between the PPP and big business was a focal point for Lewis. He accused the wealthy elite of financing the PPP’s political agenda, further corrupting the electoral process. “Big business interests are part and parcel of the corrupt electoral process. They finance the PPP, they are part of the problem,” he stated, arguing that these business interests sought to protect their own wealth and influence by ensuring that the government remained favourable to their needs. Lewis warned that this unholy alliance between the PPP and big business was damaging the interests of the working class and the democratic fabric of the country.
Present Voters’ List unacceptable and vulnerable to manipulation
In addition to his concerns about the influence of big business, Lewis expressed frustration with the state of the Official List of Electors. He described it as “unacceptable” and vulnerable to manipulation, urging for its immediate cleansing to ensure that the upcoming elections would be legitimate. This issue was shared by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), which has long advocated for electoral reforms, particularly the use of biometric technology to safeguard the voting process. The WPA’s position, which Lewis fully supports, calls for a fresh round of house-to-house registration to ensure an accurate and legitimate list of voters. “Nothing short of a new list bereft of the bloat will suffice,” the WPA stated, and Lewis echoed this sentiment in his interview.
Lewis also agrees with the call for biometric identification during registration and voting to combat issues like voter impersonation. He notes that the technology available today was far more reliable than systems used in the past. “The world has moved on – there are now far more dependable electronic biometrics that should be adopted in this new reality,” he remarked, stressing the importance of modernising the electoral process to ensure its credibility.
A key focus of Lewis’s criticism was the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which he accused of being compromised by political interference. The veteran trade unionist pointed to the installation of Claudette Singh as GECOM Chairperson and her consistent decisions in favour of the PPP. “Since Chairman Claudette Singh was installed at GECOM, every time she voted she has done so in favour of the PPP,” Lewis noted.
GECOM has lost the confidence of the electorate
He expressed concern that GECOM has lost the confidence of the electorate, with many Guyanese believing that Singh is acting in the interests of the PPP rather than in a neutral capacity. “Guyanese clearly have expressed the view that Singh works for some other agency (PPP) that gives her instructions,” he said, calling for introspection from the GECOM Chairperson and urging her to regain the public’s trust by acting impartially.
The General Secretary also called for GECOM to exercise its constitutional autonomy (independence) and resist any pressure and/or interference from the government. He noted that political interference at GECOM undermines the integrity of the electoral process and erodes public confidence in the system. He said that the lack of impartiality at GECOM was widely recognised among the public, particularly in light of its decisions during past elections.
The remarks from Lewis highlight deep concerns about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process in Guyana. With the next elections fast approaching, his call for electoral reforms, the cleansing of the voters’ list, and the adoption of biometric technology remain crucial issues. Whether the government, GECOM, and other stakeholders will act on these calls for reform is uncertain, but Lewis’s concerns reflect a growing sense of unease about the future of democracy in the country.
