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Georgetown, Guyana — The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has renewed its call for comprehensive electoral reforms ahead of the 2025 general and regional elections, including fresh house-to-house registration and the introduction of enhanced biometric verification. Speaking at a virtual press conference on November 4 alongside several other WPA executives, WPA leader and presidential candidate Dr. David Hinds asserted that “nothing short of a new list bereft of the bloat will suffice.”
Hinds emphasized that instances of alleged voter impersonation during the 2020 elections, reportedly confirmed by immigration authorities, highlight the urgent need for a credible voter registry and biometric identification. He called the PPP’s resistance to implementing these measures “tantamount to holding the country at ransom” and contended that this resistance “runs counter to the ruling party’s rhetoric in favor of free and fair elections.”
Hinds also responded to Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s recent concerns that potential power failures could interfere with biometric systems. Dismissing this as “scandalous,” Hinds said the WPA is informed that “the technology is insulated against power failures.” According to Hinds, the government’s unwillingness to address reforms it once advocated, including biometric identification and a cleaned voters’ list, is counterproductive to maintaining electoral integrity.
Turning to the issue of alleged political bias in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Hinds criticized GECOM Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh, claiming she frequently votes with government-aligned commissioners. The WPA leader urged Singh to maintain her impartiality, warning that if she continued “to thwart solutions to these problems,” the WPA would have to join calls for her resignation.
Hinds further called for an “independent audit of the existing staff to determine their neutrality in the conduct of their official responsibilities.” He cited allegations that some staff were selected based on political favoritism as an issue that “must not be taken lightly.” In support of this position, the WPA endorsed GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander’s recommendation to have future hiring conducted by an independent committee.
Hinds has urged the international community to uphold Guyana’s government to “universal governance standards” as the country prepares for upcoming elections.
