Dear Editor,
The Final Report of the European Union Election Observation Mission on our recent elections is more than a document, it is a wake-up call. As a Guyanese and as an activist committed to justice, fairness, and accountability, I feel deeply moved by the concerns they highlighted. These issues speak directly to the trust our people place in the ballot box, and they deserve our full and urgent attention.
The EU Mission’s call for a clean, credible voters list is not new, but it is more pressing now than ever. For too long, ordinary citizens have questioned whether the voters list truly reflects the population of this country. When a mother from Linden, a teacher from Berbice, or a young first-time voter in Georgetown walks into a polling place, they deserve certainty, not doubt. A clean voters list is the foundation of a fair election, and without it, confidence in our entire democratic system continues to erode. We cannot allow that to continue.
The EU also highlighted the need for genuine electoral reform, not cosmetic changes, not temporary fixes, but real structural reform that restores trust. The politicization of our electoral institutions has created divisions that run deep into our communities, leaving many to feel unheard or unprotected. Reform must be grounded in transparency, community involvement, and strong legal safeguards that put the people, not political parties—at the centre of the process. If we want future elections to be peaceful, respected, and unquestioned, then we must rebuild the systems that govern them.
Another painful but undeniable truth raised by the EU Mission is the issue of media bias. Our citizens deserve access to balanced, fair, and independent information. When certain voices dominate the airwaves and others struggle to be heard, democracy is weakened. No political movement, community, or citizen should be made to feel invisible in their own country. A free and fair media is not a privilege—it is a right, and it must be protected for the sake of all Guyanese.
What the EU Mission has offered us is an opportunity—an opportunity to correct long-standing weaknesses, restore faith in our institutions, and create an electoral environment that all Guyanese, regardless of background or belief, can trust. Their report is not an attack on our sovereignty. It is a reflection of our reality, and it is up to us to respond with courage, honesty, and a commitment to progress.
I am urging our leaders, civil society, and every citizen who believes in fairness to take these recommendations seriously. Let us rise above partisan interest and commit ourselves to building a democracy worthy of our people’s hopes and sacrifices.
Guyana deserves a system that works—not for one side, not for some of us, but for all of us. The EU Mission has pointed the way. Now we must have the will to walk the path.
Sincerely,
Lorenzo Joseph
United Workers Party (UWP)
Activist, Region 10
