PNCR to seek meeting with the Guyana Elections Commission over Biometics issue

The People’s National Congress Reform intends to write to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as early as next week to request a meeting with the Commission to discuss the party’s demand for the use of enhanced biometric at the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

At a press conference, PNC General Secretary, Sherwin Benjamin said the party has not ruled out having a face-to-face meeting with the Chairman and Commissioners at GECOM.

“We are prepared to and we will write GECOM on this matter,” Benjamin said.

The PNCR, which is the largest opposition party in the country, believes that enhanced biometrics at polling stations will guard against electoral fraud.

The Chairman of the Elections Commission has signaled a willingness to consult an expert on the use of digital finger printing during registration, but she has said that such an initiative cannot be rolled out simultaneously with the preparations for elections.

However, the PNCR is demanding that the expert or experts be hired now to provide the advice and guidance.

“Guyanese are over-saturated with the claims and counterclaims from their pollical parties and GECOM itself on the merits and demerits of digital biometrics. Disputes and knowledge gaps, however, could be readily resolved by employing the services of a reputable international firm of experts to advise GECOM and the nation about the relevant aspects of the technology, including best practices and implementation timeframes. We see no difficulty in recruiting such expertise as early as next month,” the General Secretary said.

Vice President, and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo has stated that believes the moves to implement enhanced biometrics at polling stations so close to elections could disenfranchise voters, but the PNCR General Secretary brushed aside his concerns, telling reporters that prior to 2020, the PPP had championed the need for biometrics.

“This is the same Bharrat Jagdeo who, after the PPP’s defeat in 2015, aggressively demanded not only fingerprint biometrics for voter verification, but also electronic voting. In other words, he and his party were even advocating for voting without ballot paper. His current criticism against digital biometrics are therefore two-faced and devious,” Benjamin said.

He said if the PPP/C is serious about free and fair elections in 2025, it should throw its support behind the calls for enhanced biometrics.