General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, is calling on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), President Irfaan Ali, and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton to put national interest above political partisanship.
“GECOM Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh, President Ali, and Opposition Leader Norton are all aware that the Commission is currently ill-equipped to deliver free, fair, and credible elections,” Lewis told Village Voice News.
“The state of the voters list and the absence of biometric safeguards to prevent fraudulent voting are serious issues. That these leaders are willing to risk the well-being of Guyanese citizens is not only worrisome but shows contempt for the people and the nation.”
Lewis stressed that the current electoral environment is of grave concern to the trade union movement, as it disproportionately affects workers and their families—particularly children, who could face risks in the aftermath of a contested election.
“Those making reckless decisions are shielded by state-funded security, while ordinary families bear the consequences,” he added. “This is selfishness at its core and further entrenches divisions in society, whether ethnic or political.”
Proposed Reforms
When asked what steps should be taken, the veteran trade unionist outlined several key measures:
- Implementing biometric technology for voter verification,
- Amending legislation to allow for the removal of ineligible names from the voters list, and
- Emulating the bipartisan cooperation of former President Desmond Hoyte and Opposition Leader Cheddi Jagan, who returned to Parliament to reform the electoral system in response to public demand.
Under Hoyte and Jagan’s leadership, legislation was passed to establish the current structure of GECOM and implement measures such as counting ballots at the place of polling; reforms that reflected the people’s will.
“Today, citizens are asking for two basic things: a clean voters list and the use of biometrics. These demands are reasonable,” Lewis said. “All political parties have supported these reforms at some point. It cannot be that they are only good ideas when in opposition and bad when in government. These principles must apply universally.”
Changing Positions
Lewis recalled that in 2005, then-Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo- General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)—supported biometric enhancements, including iris scans, under the leadership of then-GECOM Chair Dr. Steve Surujbally. However, the PPP has since reversed its stance, now expressing satisfaction with the current voters list and the absence of biometrics.
International Responsibility
Asked about the apparent satisfaction of the international community with the current system, Lewis said that while electoral reform is a domestic responsibility, international stakeholders must also be held accountable.
“The international community observed the 2020 elections and raised concerns about the voters list,” he said. “They recommended legislative reforms to uphold the principle of one-person-one-vote, a principle for which the trade union movement has long struggled. We must hold them to their own words and ensure that the people receive the free, fair, and credible elections they deserve.”
Lewis warned that the interests of foreign nations in Guyana’s natural resources must not overshadow the democratic rights of its people. “Their economic interests are intertwined with ours, but our national well-being must come first.”
He cited recommendations from both the Organisation of American States (OAS) and CARICOM:
- The OAS called for “comprehensive reform of the voter registration system, including legislative authorisation for voter registration, list updates, and mechanisms for dispute resolution” (p. 7).
- CARICOM emphasized the “urgent total re-registration of all voters,” stating that “the suspicion that the 2020 register was bloated is not without merit” (p. 50).
A Stark Reminder
Lewis reiterated the GTUC’s long standing commitment to electoral reform and reminded the public of the violence surrounding the 2020 elections. On March 6, 2020, school buses carrying children were attacked by protesters. Some children were injured and hospitalized, while others were left traumatized. Civil servants were also targeted, and sections of the East Coast were blocked, affecting healthcare workers and the public.
“If these issues remain unresolved,” Lewis warned, “the next victims could be babies and the dead.”
He concluded with a renewed call to action: “GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh, President Ali, and Opposition Leader Norton must return to the drawing board and demonstrate to the nation that the people’s well-being comes before personal or political interests.
