The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), the country’s largest federated labour organisation, has intensified its advocacy for electoral integrity by engaging key international observer missions ahead of Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections, scheduled for tomorrow, September 1.
In separate high-level meetings held with CARICOM and the Organisation of American States (OAS) on Tuesday, August 26, and with the Commonwealth Observer Mission on Thursday, August 29, GTUC raised serious concerns over the state of Guyana’s electoral system and the dangerous trajectory it believes the country is heading toward.
Speaking with Village Voice News, GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis described the engagements as essential to upholding democratic transparency and reaffirming the critical role civil society must play in safeguarding electoral integrity.
“GTUC remains firmly committed to the democratic process and to protecting the right of all Guyanese to participate in free, fair, and credible elections,” Lewis stated.
Yet, despite this commitment, the union says it is deeply troubled that little to no meaningful progress has been made on the urgent electoral reforms repeatedly recommended by international observers following the chaotic and crisis-ridden 2020 elections.
Observer Recommendations Ignored
GTUC noted that missions from the 2020 elections—CARICOM, the OAS, Commonwealth, and EU—uniformly identified several critical reforms, including:
A complete overhaul of the inflated voters’ list
Campaign finance reform
Introduction of biometrics and modern technology
Legislative reforms to guarantee electoral impartiality
An independent election commission free from political interference
Equal media access for all political parties
“Regrettably,” the GTUC said, “most of these remain ignored. The 2025 elections now face a real threat of being neither free, nor fair, nor free from fear.”
Mounting Red Flags on the Ground
The GTUC also presented troubling observations and reports from the ground, which it says paint a grim picture of the political environment:
Credible reports of voter intimidation, particularly against presidential candidate Mr. Azruddin Mohamed of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party
Targeted disruptions of WIN campaign events in PPP strongholds, allegedly involving the use of state-employed 10-day workers
Widespread voter fear and suppression, where citizens are afraid to express support for opposition parties
Monopolisation of state-owned media by the PPP, depriving opposition parties of equal exposure
Blatant misuse of state resources to boost the PPP’s campaign
A voters’ list so inflated it reportedly includes nearly 90% of the population
Breach of electoral rules, such as the use of mobile phones during the August 22 Disciplined Services vote, compromising voter secrecy
No progress on implementing biometric verification or cleaning the voters list
Lewis warned that with a proportional representation system—where a single vote can determine the presidency, parliament, and regional control—every action that undermines public trust is dangerous.
“We ask the observer missions: What are your benchmarks for declaring these elections credible? How will you know if the final outcome truly reflects the will of the people?” Lewis asked.
A Democracy in Jeopardy
GTUC stressed that Guyana is at risk of facing yet another democratic legitimacy crisis if urgent reforms are not implemented immediately.
“Without public trust, elections become theatre—dangerous theatre,” Lewis asserted.
GTUC’s Continued Advocacy for Democratic Reform
GTUC also updated the international missions on its multi-pronged national and international advocacy efforts to safeguard the vote:
Public Engagement: Through media and grassroots outreach across its affiliated unions, GTUC continues to raise awareness of electoral issues.
Formal Meeting with GECOM (March 12, 2025): GTUC met with Chairperson Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh and CEO Vishnu Persaud, urging urgent adoption of biometrics and re-registration.
Dialogue with Opposition Parties: Between February and March 2025, GTUC held formal consultations with the AFC, WPA, and PNCR/APNU. The PPP did not respond to repeated invitations.
Communication with GECOM Commissioners: Letters were sent to both government- and opposition-appointed commissioners. Only the opposition-appointed commissioners engaged.
International Memorandum: In March 2025, GTUC submitted a detailed memorandum to international observers, calling for urgent action on electoral reform, particularly a clean voters list, biometric verification, and measures to prevent voter intimidation.
CARICOM Engagement: In January 2025, GTUC formally wrote to CARICOM, raising concerns about electoral manipulation by the ruling PPP/C and seeking dialogue. While an acknowledgment was received, no meeting has yet been held. GTUC disclosed that its concerns are based on insider intelligence and collaboration with international partners.
“The ruling administration has consistently undermined electoral confidence and institutions,” Lewis charged. “It’s not just about reform anymore—it’s about survival of democracy in Guyana.”
A Final Warning
GTUC concluded its meetings with a firm warning: Guyana’s democracy hangs in the balance. The 2025 elections must not be a repeat of past chaos, and the international community must not allow itself to be manipulated or misled.
“We will continue to fight,” Lewis said. “As a labour movement, we owe it to the workers, to the people, and to future generations. The world must know that we will not be silent in the face of creeping authoritarianism.”
