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Georgetown, Guyana — People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Leader Aubrey Norton underscored the opposition’s commitment to electoral reforms, emphasizing the need for biometrics but stressing that this alone would not guarantee the free and fair elections that PNCR is advocating for.
Speaking at the party’s weekly press conference on November 8, Norton urged that biometric technology should be part of a broader election reform package, which he insists must also include a clean voters’ list and impartiality within the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
“Biometrics must be part of a package to ensure free and fair elections,” Norton stated, emphasizing that the use of biometric technology to prevent voter impersonation should be paired with efforts to verify the eligibility of individuals on the voters’ list.
He argued that the existing list contained numerous inaccuracies, with “every Tom, Dick, and Harry” potentially able to obtain a national ID under relaxed requirements, which he claims undermines the accuracy of the voter registry.
Norton reiterated that the PNCR is prepared to support legislative changes to secure a clean voters’ list, describing it as “imperative” for credible elections. He referenced past instances when, according to him, coalition attempts to establish a new, clean voters’ list were blocked by the PPP through court intervention.
The opposition leader also asserted that biometric technology could be implemented efficiently, citing examples of countries with larger populations where similar reforms were achieved within months.
The press conference also included Norton’s criticisms of GECOM Chairperson Claudette Singh, whom he described as lacking impartiality due to her consistent votes in alignment with PPP commissioners. He argued that Singh’s actions compromised the integrity of the electoral process and described her as “a political partisan who must go.”
Norton is calling for broader consensus among civil society, political parties, and international stakeholders on the reforms necessary to ensure credible elections in 2025.
