WPA calls for increased protest action over GECOM’s decision not to implement biometrics for this year’s elections

WPA calls for increased protest action over GECOM’s decision not to implement biometrics for this year’s elections

Outraged over the decision by the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission to rule against the introduction of biometrics for the this year’s Elections, the Working People’s Alliance today called for mass demonstrations to have the decision reversed.

The WPA said the decision is a fatal blow against free, fair, and credible elections in Guyana, and must be rejected by the Opposition.

Executive Member of the WPA, Tucuma Ogunseye said the Joint Opposition must aggressively mobilize public opinion and action to pressure GECOM to reverse the decision, noting what is at stake is more than just a routine elections.

“I wish to urge our colleagues in the joint opposition and the masses of opposition supporters, that this is a serious matter and that we have to draw the line in the sand on this matter. And we believe that it is not a gone conclusion that there will be no biometrics. We believe the faith of biometric lies in the ability of the opposition and their supporters to give the appropriate and proper response by mass protests in the streets to make the point that we have drawn our feet in the sand on this matter,” Ogunseye said.

Co-leader of the WPA, Dr. David Hinds said while the GECOM Chair opined that there is no law which prevents GECOM from using biometrics at the election, it is unacceptable for her to decide against the use of enhanced biometrics due to the lack of sufficient time to implement it.

“The GECOM chair cannot drag her feet for four years. This matter has been on the agenda for four years. You wait until a few months before the elections and then you make a ruling and then you say you don’t have time. Why you couldn’t make your ruling in 2021, which would have given you enough time to do the things. WPA is saying clearly, this situation that we have found ourselves in, the GECOM chair must be blamed,” he said.

He warned that to head into an election with almost half of the population disgruntled is a recipe for disaster.

“We feel that we have reached a point where the very fabric of the nation is being threatened. WPA wish to say very, very clear that if you go to this election in 2025 without the demands of half of the electorate being met or you force them to go to an election in which they are not satisfied with the votes, you are playing with trouble. So, our first appeal is to the government,” Dr. Hinds said.

Dr. Hinds said GECOM must immediately begin the process of amassing the necessary resources needed for speedy implementation of biometrics during the course of the 2025 Elections.

He said the remit of GECOM is to ultimately conduct elections that satisfy the test of free and fair elections, and free from fear and intimidation.

The Elections Commission Chairman, retired Justice Claudette Singh, in arriving at her decision, said introducing a system of biometric Identification of voters digitally as a mandatory, or only means of identification would impose an additional requirement for voters and would therefore be unconstitutional. She also said there is not enough time to implement biometrics ahead of the elections to be held this year.

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