–Vice-President Jagdeo says

THE Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)’s proposal to institute biometric systems at polling stations would not only hinder voters’ constitutional right to vote, but it could also compromise the elections and possibly have it overturned in a court of law, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said.

Biometrics are defined as unique physical characteristics such as fingerprints and retina scans that could be used for automated recognition.

Dr. Jagdeo clarified that there are no requirements for biometric systems in the Constitution, and attempts in the past to mandate persons to utilise a specific form of identification to vote, compromised the elections and had it overturned in the High Court.

“There is no such requirement in the Constitution and that was tested in Esther Perreira (Esther Perreira v Chief Elections Officer et al – 1998) when we agreed with ANPU [PNC] and went to Parliament and say you could only vote with an ID card. The [then] PNC lost those elections and challenged the ID card use as being unconstitutional,” the Vice-President said.

Justice Claudette Singh, who presided over the matter at that time, concluded that the right to vote is “recognised as a constitutionally protected right” and one can only lose that right in accordance with the Constitution and by no other method.

Articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution clearly establish the qualifications and disqualifications of electors.

Articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution prescribe that a person who is 18 years or older, who is a citizen of Guyana or a Commonwealth citizen, who is not a citizen of Guyana, resident in Guyana and has been so resident for a period of one year, immediately preceding the qualifying date, qualifies to be registered; and once registered has an unconditional right to vote.

Regarding the Opposition’s proposal, Dr. Jagdeo said: “They [Opposition] want a situation like that where you constrain [persons’] constitutional right to vote using biometrics and they could go to the court and get the elections overturned.”

The Vice-President affirmed that the government is not going to make decisions that would disenfranchise people, rather they would implement systems that would enfranchise all eligible voters.

His guarantee comes at time when Guyanese are preparing to participate in the March 13, 2023, Local Government Elections (LGE).

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, in a virtual message last Thursday, said: “March 13 is an important date… I call on all Guyanese to work in renewing efforts to building the local governance system, building and strengthening our communities, especially our townships. For long, we have seen what mismanagement could do in townships, in some areas.

“This is a time for us to come together, work together, strengthen our governance system and build a system that delivers to our people.”

The local government system, Dr. Ali said, is an essential part of the country’s governance framework, and the government had promised to spare no time in calling elections once the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is ready.

And with a date being announced, the Head of State called on all stakeholders, including political parties, to get ready since they have long notice to prepare themselves to be a part of this democratic process.

“With these elections we could bring together local leadership, women, young people… and that shows our seriousness to building and strengthening governance at every single level,” President Ali said.