WPA Urges Action on Biometrics, Blasts Budget as Vote-Buying Ploy

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Georgetown, Guyana (Credible Sources) – The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) issued a sharp warning about Guyana’s political and economic future during a press conference on January 20, 2025. Addressing the media, co-leader Dr. David Hinds and other party members voiced concerns over electoral integrity, government spending priorities, and the persistent failure to foster national unity.

Dr. Hinds denounced the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair’s decision to rule out biometrics for the upcoming elections. He described it as a severe blow to free and fair elections. “This decision is a fatal blow against credible elections,” Hinds said, warning it could fuel division and unrest. The WPA called for immediate public pressure, including mass action, to push GECOM toward implementing biometrics and ensuring a clean voter list.

On the 2025 national budget, the WPA was scathing. Dr. Hinds labeled it an incoherent mix of financial sweeteners designed to win votes rather than alleviate poverty or reduce the cost of living. “This is not a budget for the poor,” he asserted, arguing that the government continues to ignore meaningful poverty alleviation measures. The WPA proposed a universal basic income of one million Guyanese dollars per household to address economic inequality.

The delay in publishing Guyana’s census also came under fire. The WPA accused the government of political maneuvering and emphasized the necessity of the census for policymaking and electoral transparency. “We should not go to another election without the publication of the census,” Hinds declared, linking the delay to a broader failure to address key governance issues.

Turning to the state of political cooperation, the WPA highlighted the dangers of exclusion and division. Dr. Rohit Khanai called for a government of national unity, warning that continued marginalization of large sections of the electorate could destabilize the nation. “It’s time Guyanese understand that we have to come together to build this country,” Khanai said.

WPA member Tacuma Ogunseye defended mass protests as a legitimate form of democratic expression, rejecting the notion that public demonstrations are disruptive. He argued that such actions are necessary to compel leaders to act in the nation’s interest. “Resistance is a right,” he emphasized, urging the opposition to mobilize citizens and pressure GECOM for reforms.