—Norton warns young people about candidates handing out a small ‘frek’ to protect themselves

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has issued a strong warning to young voters not to fall for cash handouts from political candidates, saying such gestures are driven by self-interest and not genuine concern for the people.

Speaking at the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) rally in Linden, on Sunday, Norton accused certain candidates of using money as a tool to sway voters ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections.

“I want to say to them, you are being used. If you look at the money they’re spending on the campaign, you would know that they ain’t plan giving you no money,” the party leader told the gathering.

He said the real motive behind the handouts is to protect personal interests, not to deliver lasting benefits to citizens.

“Don’t be fooled,” he cautioned, stressing that voters must not believe “a money man can give them money” without strings attached.

The warning comes amid growing concerns over vote-buying,  an illegal practice condemned by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and flagged by electoral officials as a threat to free and fair elections.

Last week, The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) reminded all stakeholders in the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections that they all have a statutory duty and civic responsibility to contribute to the elections being conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner.

In this regard, the Commission took the opportunity to strongly emphasise the need for voters and other concerned stakeholders to be informed of the following provisions as enacted in the Representation of the People Act Cap: 1:03: – “It is an offence for any person, including the voter himself, to communicate at any time to any person, any information about the political party for which any voter has voted on his behalf or as a proxy on behalf of another voter; Similarly, it is an offence for anyone to influence, by any means, a voter to display his ballot paper, to make known the political party for whom he has voted on his behalf, or as a proxy.

Further, it is an offence for any person, directly or indirectly, to offer any money, gift, and/or a loan, to any voter to secure the vote of any voter at the elections.

Any person who commits any of the above offences shall be liable on summary conviction to pay a fine and to imprisonment for six months.”

“Persons convicted for any of the above offences may also be prohibited from participating in future elections,” GECOM said.