By Dr Randy Persaud Last week I posed fifteen questions to AFC leader Nigel Hughes. Not unexpectedly, Mr. Hughes offered up a reply that must have shocked the conscience of the nation. Instead of clarity and truth, Mr. Hughes chose to offer glittering generalities and dodgy maneuvers, but no substance. He lost an opportunity hatched in good intent, to bring ...
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PPP states conditions for supporting “enhanced biometrics” for voting; joint opposition insists on mandatory biometric system
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo said his party would support the introduction and funding of “enhanced biometrics” if the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) makes such a decision once next year’s general and regional elections are not delayed. “Once it’s not disruptive to the voting and it doesn’t disenfranchise voters and it doesn’t delay the elections ...
Read More »Roysdale Forde team writes PNCR about “lack” of transparency for internal elections
The Roysdale Forde Campaign team has raised concerns about the transparency of the upcoming People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) internal elections, but a chief party spokesman on Friday sought to assure that they were being addressed internally. “The arrangements and the procedures for Congress lack transparency and appear to be shrouded in mystery,” Mr Forde’s Deputy Campaign Manager, Annette Ferguson ...
Read More »Commonwealth Foreign Ministers press GECOM to recount votes or gov’t won’t be legitimate
The Commonwealth Group of Foreign Ministers has called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ensure results of last month’s general elections are transparent and credible. “Ministers called upon the Guyana Elections Commission to immediately fulfill its constitutional mandate and ensure the sovereign right of the people of Guyana to duly elect their Government is respected through a transparent and ...
Read More »EU election observation mission slams APNU+AFC, PPP for lack of transparency on campaign financing
The European Union (EU) election observation mission on Wednesday raised concerns about the financing of the 2020 election campaign by Guyana’s two major political parties and their use of state resources in the run-up to polling day. Head of the EU Observer Mission, Urmas Paet said “one of the most problematic” issues was political and campaign financing. “Here is complete ...
Read More »“I ruled in the interest of transparency” for field verification of registrants – GECOM Chairman
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Claudette Singh on Wednesday defended her decision to vote in favour of field verification of so far 16,000 registrants before they are included in the National Register of Registrants (NRR). “I ruled in the interest of transparency and because I would like a credible list…I would like all to have a level playing field ...
Read More »OPINION: Democracy & Elections: Navigating Guyana’s muddy waters
By Professor Evan Ellis From February 19 through 27, I traveled to Georgetown, Guyana, to speak with individuals in the government and the private sector about the nation’s security challenges and internal dynamics. The country is in a potentially explosive political crisis with at least some similarities to the polarized situation in Washington, DC. In the midst of legal battles ...
Read More »Tax disclosure waivers needed for Extractive Industries Transparency process
As Guyana prepares its first Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) report on monies spent by 35 petroleum and mining companies and received by government, a UK-based firm that has been hired to match earnings and expenses says the companies will be asked to authorise the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to release confidential tax information. Hired independent administrator for Guyana’s EITI ...
Read More »AFC, PPP shrug off claims of State resources being used for political activism
As Guyana’s elections campaign slowly heats up, the use of State resources is again taking centre stage after the governing coalition and the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) were seen using materials funded by the public purse. The Alliance For Change (AFC), the coalition partner, and the PPP on Wednesday defended their decisions to do so. Last week Saturday, AFC ...
Read More »Global fund wants gov’t to repay for misappropriated mosquito nets
Global Fund is requesting that the Government of Guyana repay them millions of dollars that were allegedly misappropriated by staffers of the Ministry of Public Health under a malaria mosquito net program. In a report published on the Website the Organisation claims that employees from the Guyana Ministry of Health had inflated the number of bed nets reported as having ...
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