The Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG) continues its strong commitment to ensuring that the rights of all citizens, residents, and inmates in Guyana are upheld, particularly as we approach the upcoming regional and general elections in 2025. We are pursuing every available national and international avenue to advocate for the inclusion of all eligible citizens in the electoral process. Inmates, who are still citizens of Guyana, should not lose their right to vote due to incarceration for non-election-related offenses. Their human and constitutional rights, including the right to vote, must remain intact.
Yesterday, we wrote to several key organizations and embassies seeking their support for two critical issues in the upcoming elections:
1. The introduction of a Biometric Voting System, which will ensure the security, integrity, and transparency of the elections.
2. The Inclusion of Inmates who have been convicted for non-election-related crimes in the voting process, as they retain their right to vote as citizens of Guyana.
The organizations and embassies we reached out to include:
The National Democratic Institute (NDI)
United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UN EAD)
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
European Union Election Observation Missions (EU EOM)
The Carter Center
Organization of American States (OAS)
African Union Commission (AUC)
Commonwealth Secretariat
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
Embassy of the United Kingdom in Guyana
U.S. Embassy in Guyana
European Union Delegation to Guyana
Additionally, we have reached out to several human rights organizations, including:
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
Amnesty International
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
International Federation for Human Rights
World Prison Brief (Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research)
European Court of Human Rights
Prison Reform Trust
International Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Network
International Human Rights Commission
Call to Action:
By this press release, we are now calling on all citizens of Guyana, as well as local human rights organizations and other entities, to join us in supporting this cause. We urge all concerned individuals and groups to lend their voices and help us advocate for the following:
1. The immediate adoption of a Biometric Voting System to ensure that the elections are secure, accessible, and fair for all eligible voters.
2. The Inclusion of Inmates who have been convicted of non-election-related crimes in the upcoming elections, as the Constitution of Guyana does not disqualify them from voting. They remain citizens and should retain their right to participate in the democratic process.
We strongly believe that every citizen, regardless of their incarceration status, should have the right to cast their vote and participate in the future of Guyana. Additionally, the implementation of a biometric system will enhance the transparency and credibility of the electoral process, ensuring that it is free from fraud and manipulation.
We urge all Guyanese and local entities – including human rights organizations, civil society groups, and all stakeholders committed to democracy and human rights – to stand with us and support this call for action.
Together, we can help ensure that Guyana’s 2025 elections reflect the core democratic values of fairness, inclusivity, and transparency.
