PNCR General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin stated during a Friday press conference that the party is exploring all options to implement digital fingerprint technology at polling stations, including potential mass protests.
The dispute focuses on Guyana’s voter registry, which contains nearly as many names as the country’s total population of approximately 800,000. The PNCR has expressed concerns about potential voter fraud and non-citizen registration, though the party has not presented documentary evidence supporting these claims.
The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) supports the PNCR’s stance and joins the call for protests demanding electoral reforms. PNCR leader Aubrey Norton has noted concerns about how demonstrations might affect Guyana’s Indo-Guyanese community, highlighting the country’s sensitive ethnic-political landscape.
Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, has acknowledged the commission’s legal authority to implement biometric voting technology but confirmed it will not be used in the 2025 general elections. The decision stems from practical constraints including the need for expert consultation, equipment procurement, staff training, and voter education.
Current PNCR protests, including weekly pickets outside GECOM headquarters, have drawn modest participation, with recent demonstrations attracting fewer than 15 people. The party insists public concern about electoral integrity remains significant despite low turnout.
The ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) and GECOM officials contend that current electoral safeguards – including polling station oversight, transparent ballot counting, and public posting of voting records – effectively prevent fraud.
These tensions reflect Guyana’s history of electoral disputes, where political divisions often mirror ethnic boundaries in the South American nation.
Source: Demerara Waves
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February 24, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
