The umbrella trade union body, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), has joined the calls for a clean voters’ list ahead of next year’s elections and for enhanced biometrics to be used at polling stations. 

GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis at a press conference said the GTUC is monitoring the Elections Commission, and has taken note of the “deeply flawed” voters list, which currently has more than 718,000 names.

“This Congress believes that the Voters List is corrupt and must be cleansed. Biometrics serve as one of the measures to deliver free, fair and credible elections. GECOM, like us, would have read the reports by the local, regional and international observers to the 2020 Elections, and before,” Lewis told reporters. 

Mr. Lewis said without exception, every report on the last elections castigated the voters’ list and recommended reforms.

He added that the GTUC is deeply concerned that the Elections Commission has not taken appropriate steps since the last elections to rectify the situation in keeping with recommendations by both regional and international observer groups. 

“GTUC does not want to hear about make-believe hindrances such as cost and the need for constitutional amendment. Money or constitutional amendment is not out of reach if we are desirous of delivering to this nation what the trade union movement initiated the struggle for- ‘one man one vote,’” Lewis said. 

Lewis said it is shameful for GECOM to present excuses as to why the voters’ list cannot be rectified and better systems be put in place to ensure free and fair elections. 

In recent months, opposition parties have amplified their calls for the voters’ list to be cleansed of persons who are now deceased, and those who no longer reside in Guyana. The Elections Commission has said it can only be guided by the law and the law does not allow it to remove non-residents from the list. GECOM has said it will be up to legislators to change the law.

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