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Georgetown, Guyana — Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed cautious support for implementing enhanced biometrics in future elections, provided it doesn’t disenfranchise voters or disrupt the electoral process. At a press briefing on November 7, Jagdeo responded to questions on whether his party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), would support new biometric measures for voter verification. He emphasized the importance of balanced solutions that protect election integrity without compromising accessibility for voters.
In his remarks, Jagdeo acknowledged the benefits of using biometrics to prevent voter impersonation and ensure only eligible citizens vote. However, he stressed that the proposed technology must not lead to delays, confusion, or barriers at polling stations, pointing out that, if mismanaged, biometrics could risk “disenfranchising voters” or “delaying the election process.” Jagdeo further noted that his party is committed to free and fair elections but warned against measures that could be exploited for political gain.
“Knowing APNU and what they did with the recount… they’re just looking for confusion in the future, and we’re not going to give them an opportunity for that,” he stated. Jagdeo referred to the recount of the 2020 elections, where the PPP asserted that the opposition party attempted to manipulate the results, suggesting they could use future technology for similar disruptions.
Jagdeo made clear that the PPP’s commitment to election integrity includes supporting measures that add transparency but not at the cost of fairness or efficiency. He stated that the PPP will monitor any proposal that comes before the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) closely, adding, “Financially, there shall be no constraint to free and fair elections or clean elections,” signaling government support for adequate funding to ensure election integrity.
The VP also underscored the PPP’s proactive role in updating election laws and introducing the new Representation of the People Act, which aims to enhance transparency. “We’ve immeasurably strengthened the system,” he noted, explaining that the new act includes public publication of Statements of Poll (SOPs) and predefined responsibilities for election staff.
Vice President Jagdeo stated that the PPP’s commitment to implementing election reforms that advance transparency and avoid confusion. As GECOM continues its deliberations on potential biometric solutions, Jagdeo’s remarks suggest that any proposal will be carefully evaluated by his party with the dual goals of maintaining security and protecting voter access.
