With General Elections set for next year, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) believes it is imperative for President Irfaan Ali and the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton to engage in dialogue with the aim of finding solutions to many challenges confronting the Guyana Elections Commission. 

The Opposition and the Elections Commission are at odds over the credibility of the Voters’ List, and the need for adequate safeguards, such as the use of enhanced biometrics, to guard against electoral fraud.

The Elections Commission is also facing concern of bias.

With a number of the issues requiring legislative changes, Co-Leader of the Working People’s Alliance, Dr David Hinds said a political intervention is needed.

“Such a solution must include a shared agreement on the rules, the architecture and a code of conduct for the election. This is an imperative given what is at stake. It is clear that GECOM finds itself a prisoner of the logic of our political divide. A political solution at the level of the political leaders would release the shackles from GECOM and allow the body to do its job in as impartial a manner as is possible,” Dr Hinds said. 

Dr. Hinds reasoned that such a solution would remove the growing anxiety in the wider population and restore a sense of confidence in the electoral process.

He said the WPA’s first preference is for the leaders to take the initiative and begin to meet on their own accord but given their vast differences on the fundamental issues at hand, it may be necessary for some form of mediation. 

The party proposes a combination of local, regional, and international mediators.

Dr Hinds warned that failure to find common ground can put the country at risk of there being heightened tension as it moves closer to the 2025 Elections. 

“First, we are putting our national cohesion at great risk. Our fragile national compact simply cannot withstand another election which is mired in controversy because our major political actors disagree on the rules. This is a sure recipe for prolonged political instability which given Guyana’s ethno-political divide could disintegrate into overt conflict. We have been down that road before,” the WPA co-leader said.

He warned further that political instability can take a toll on the country’s economy and hamper economic development. 

“Economic development in a petrostate which is mired in political instability is a non-starter.  We have already seen the early signs of how a drift in the direction of autocratic rule is being hastened by our new-found wealth.  Controversy over how the oil economy should be managed, how the revenues should be distributed and what should be our socio-economic priorities will be compounded by a hyper-acrimonious election,” Dr Hinds said.

Dr Hinds said the two leaders must arrive at solutions that would restore the public’s trust in the election machinery, and allow for a free and fair election come 2025. 

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