Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has accused the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of attempting to rig the upcoming General and Regional Elections scheduled for September 1. He claims the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has appointed known PPP affiliates to key roles for polling day, undermining its independence.
During a live broadcast, Norton stated that about 90% of the appointed returning officers and polling staff are affiliated with the PPP, calling into question the Commission’s credibility. He criticized the appointment of GECOM Chairperson Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, alleging she was installed with PPP support, further compromising the electoral process.
Norton also highlighted that proposals from opposition-nominated GECOM commissioners, including banning cell phones in polling booths and implementing biometric voter verification, have been rejected. He warned that any election rigging attempts would have serious consequences for the government.
Concerns regarding GECOM’s operations were echoed by Commissioner Vincent Alexander, who noted a lack of transparency and unresolved issues about voting procedures. The upcoming elections will not utilize biometric verification due to time constraints, despite its feasibility.
GECOM recently released its Official List of Electors, indicating that over 1,000 deceased individuals have been removed from the voters’ list.
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