APNU+AFC look forward to working with EU and all stakeholders on electoral reforms

The Opposition, A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) has welcomed the presence of the European Union (EU) Observer Mission follow-up team in Guyana and said the coalition is committed to working with all stakeholders on electoral reforms.

The APNU+AFC has pointed out electoral reforms in Guyana have become increasingly necessary as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continues to shirk its constitutional responsibility to deliver credible elections and as the public’s confidence in elections continues to erode.

GECOM has come under heightened scrutiny over its preparation of the Local Government Elections (LGE). The process is not only marred by earlier failure to comply with the Local Government Elections Law on the electoral roll but also during the nomination process with the names of the dead, persons not resident in Guyana, one handwriting appearing to sign for many, among other irregularities, appearing on the lists of nominator.

The opposition has stated the presence in Guyana of the European Union’s (EU) 2020 election observer mission (EOM) follow-up team to assess whether progress has been made on electoral reforms in line with the recommendations of the EOM’s Final Report on the 2020 Guyana elections, is an initiative they stand ready to support. “We welcome this EU initiative and stand ready to meet with the follow-up team to advance the agenda on electoral reforms.”

The Opposition has highlighted preparations for the 2023 LGE have amply demonstrated that the electoral process is still prone to political manipulation, corruption, and fraud. They have further exposed an elections commission that has been politically hijacked, is poorly chaired, is administratively unfit, and is unaccountable to the people.

Pointing out they have reviewed the twenty-six (26) recommendations made in the final report of the 2020 EU Election Observer Mission to Guyana, the Opposition highlights the undermentioned recommendations they are particularly interested in:

1. Overhauling the composition and functioning of the Elections Commission through a national consultative process.
2. The need for a thorough update of the decade-old register well ahead of the next election cycle.
3. The need for clear written procedures for the transmission and tabulation of election results, notably to ensure consistency of the process in all regions, and adequate traceability of handed over electoral documents.
4. The mandatory publication of all GECOM decisions, regulatory instruments, and instructions.
5. The obligation for the commission to regularly meet with stakeholders and the media to explain and account for all major decisions.
6. Prohibiting the use of state resources for political campaigning.
7. Establishing a comprehensive election dispute resolution system to ensure effective and timely remedies throughout all stages of the electoral process.

In our expected meetings with the EU follow-up mission, we, in the Opposition, intend to make the case for a clean voters list and the use of biometrics for voting, stated the APNU+AFC.

The Opposition also expressed their skepticism that the current photo identification and verification process could reduce the risk of fraud inherent in a bloated voters list and intend to demonstrate where the recent amendments to ROPA are cosmetic and ineffectual.

The APNU+AFC said they look forward to working with the EU and all other stakeholders on electoral reforms.