By Radha Motielall | January 9, 2025
As Guyana prepares for its upcoming general and regional elections, PPP General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo reaffirmed that his party seeks only free, fair, and transparent elections managed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) within the legal framework.
During a press conference, Dr. Jagdeo responded to repeated opposition claims regarding the integrity of the voters’ list.
He dismissed allegations of fraud, stating that most political observers recognize that the claims from the PNC and AFC are misleading.
He emphasized that under the constitution, names can only be removed from the National Register of Registrants (NRR) if individuals are deceased.
Jagdeo further clarified that the registration process had been thorough and closely scrutinized, underscoring that once someone is registered, their name cannot be removed except in the case of death.
He also rejected the argument that migration should justify the removal of names from the list.
The PPP General Secretary noted that calls for fresh registration could lead to electoral challenges, which he believes is the opposition’s intention.
He also addressed concerns about biometrics, stating that biometric data is already integrated into the polling process through GECOM’s prepared folios.
In conclusion, Jagdeo emphasized that the PPP’s position is not about influencing GECOM but ensuring that the elections are conducted in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.