By Mark DaCosta- The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has again raised concerns regarding the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) management of critical electoral issues, accusing the body of insufficient transparency and questioning its commitment to ensuring electoral integrity. In a comprehensive statement issued on November 25, the WPA sharply criticised GECOM for failing to provide answers to growing public dissatisfaction and for what they see as a systematic failure to address serious electoral flaws.
The WPA’s statement highlights several key issues, including the handling of voter impersonation allegations, missing statutory documents from election boxes during the last elections, and GECOM’s questionable approach to biometric voter registration.
The WPA’s criticisms follow a rare press conference hosted by GECOM Chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, on November 22, which was held in response to mounting public and political pressure.
However, rather than easing public concern, the WPA contends that Singh’s remarks raised more questions than they answered. According to the WPA, the press briefing was poorly prepared, with Singh failing to provide substantive answers to the serious issues at hand.
The party further accused GECOM of being evasive and not displaying an adequate level of transparency, which, they argue, only serves to further erode the public’s trust in the electoral body. The WPA stated, “The Madam Chair did not cover herself in glory as she appeared not to grasp the gravity of the issues she and GECOM are confronting.”
The WPA’s statement strongly criticises GECOM for its delay in holding consultations on the use of biometric voter identification. The WPA argued that it is critical to consult stakeholders before making decisions on such important matters, rather than presenting the details of biometric registration as a fait accompli. “Consultation with stakeholders should not be an afterthought,” the WPA declared. The party emphasised that the use of biometrics could help address the growing concerns of voter impersonation and that it should be pursued with the prior input of professionals and stakeholders from across the country.
The WPA further elaborated on concerns regarding the ongoing issue of voter impersonation, which they believe has not been adequately addressed by GECOM. The party referred to the 2020 general elections, where the APNU+AFC coalition had flagged approximately 8,000 cases of potential voter impersonation during the recount. This number was significant enough to potentially alter the results of the election, but the WPA expressed dismay over GECOM’s failure to thoroughly investigate these allegations.
“WPA is shocked that GECOM treated with APNU+AFC charges of voter impersonation at the 2020 elections in a clearly cavalier manner,” they said, questioning why GECOM did not send the full list of flagged individuals to the Chief Immigration Officer for verification. The WPA referenced a specific example where 173 out of 205 individuals listed in a sample were found not to be in Guyana on the day of the election — indicating that the scale of voter impersonation could be much larger than previously acknowledged.
Further compounding the WPA’s concerns, GECOM’s handling of these findings was called into question. The WPA accused the electoral body of failing to inform CARICOM observers or other international bodies about these serious allegations. They also questioned why the Attorney General has not followed up nor acted on the list of potentially fraudulent voters, a situation which they suggest might be indicative of a cover-up. “Did GECOM therefore cover up or condone a potential breach of the law?” the WPA asked.
Another issue raised by the WPA was the absence of statutory documents in 47 election boxes from the East Coast of Demerara. GECOM’s legal advisor admitted that the missing documents were in violation of the law, as all election-related materials are required to be accounted for.
“That GECOM now says that it is currently training its workers about what needs to be in the boxes is a blatant admittance of this breach,” the WPA argued. The WPA questioned whether the omission of these documents was deliberate or simply a result of poor management. They also demanded answers as to who was responsible for the missing materials and why no action had been taken to investigate the breach.
The WPA expressed unease that GECOM had not taken decisive action on these irregularities, especially considering that members of the opposition and GECOM staff have been implicated in electoral fraud cases. The WPA further criticised GECOM for rejecting the Chief Elections Officer’s suggestion to set aside votes from the affected boxes or hold a by-election in the affected districts. “WPA is uncomfortable with this situation. Everything points to a cover-up of fraud,” they stated.
The WPA’s stated concerns serve as a sharp critique of both GECOM’s handling of electoral matters and the wider governance practices of the current People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration. The WPA continues to call for greater transparency, accountability, and the establishment of independent oversight mechanisms in the entire electoral process.
