标签： Guyana

The Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has initiated a significant legislative move to modernize Guyana’s electoral system. On Monday, November 4, 2025, APNU tabled a motion in the National Assembly aimed at amending the Representation of the People Act. The proposed amendment seeks to mandate digital biometric verification of voters before they cast their ballots in the 2030 general and regional elections. This initiative is designed to bolster the integrity of the electoral process by preventing voter impersonation, reducing the need for extensive scrutineering by political parties, and restoring public confidence in election outcomes. APNU parliamentarian Dr. Terrence Campbell emphasized that the use of advanced biometric technologies, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, has proven effective in other democracies in curbing voter fraud and ensuring that only registered electors vote. The motion also highlights the challenges faced by smaller political parties in recruiting and training scrutineers, which are exacerbated by allegations of voter impersonation and irregularities that have plagued recent elections. APNU’s proposal calls for the government, in consultation with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), to amend Section 69 of the Representation of the People Act to include biometric verification requirements. The motion underscores the need for legislative, technical, and administrative measures to implement these changes ahead of the next elections. GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, has previously noted that while digital biometrics can be used for voter registration, they cannot be the sole means of verification due to constitutional constraints. The motion reflects APNU’s broader goal of addressing longstanding issues of voter fraud that have undermined public trust in Guyana’s electoral system since the country’s independence in 1966.

The opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has raised serious concerns regarding the Guyana government’s handling of recent bombings that have shaken the capital. These attacks targeted critical infrastructure and resulted in the tragic death of a six-year-old girl, alongside injuries to four others. Shadow Home Affairs Minister Sherod Duncan has formally questioned Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond in the National Assembly, demanding clarity on whether a national threat-assessment bulletin was issued between May and October 2025. Duncan’s inquiry also seeks details on the recipients of such a bulletin, if it exists. The bombings in question include two simultaneous explosions on May 17, which damaged the Ruimveldt Police Outpost and a Guyana Power and Light substation, and a subsequent attack on October 26 at a Mobil gas station. Duncan has further pressed the government to disclose whether an internal review was conducted following the May incidents, and what recommendations emerged from it. Additionally, he has sought information on intelligence regarding Spanish-speaking nationals implicated in the October attack, as well as the mechanisms for real-time cross-border alert sharing among immigration, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), and the Guyana Police Force.

In a significant political development, the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party has formally requested the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, to convene a meeting for the election of the Opposition Leader. This move follows the swearing-in of WIN leader Azruddin Mohamed as a parliamentarian on Monday, November 3, 2025. Mohamed, who is currently on GY$150,000 bail pending a magistrate’s hearing regarding a U.S. extradition request for alleged wire fraud and money laundering, expressed confidence in his election as Opposition Leader. He emphasized that WIN is the primary opposition party and expects the Speaker to facilitate the process promptly. Mohamed expressed concern that the election did not occur during Monday’s parliamentary session, as he had anticipated. Historically, the Opposition Leader has not been elected at the first sitting of the National Assembly. WIN parliamentarian Tabita Sarabo-Halley confirmed that the party submitted a formal letter to the Speaker, signed by all WIN parliamentarians, urging the immediate election of the Opposition Leader in accordance with Guyana’s Constitution. Speaker Nadir acknowledged the request but indicated that formal notices would need to be issued, though the election could occur before the next parliamentary session. APNU parliamentary leader Dr. Terrence Campbell stressed the constitutional importance of the Opposition Leader’s role, expressing hope for a swift resolution. Meanwhile, Mohamed’s swearing-in ceremony was marked by a display of defiance, as he pumped his fist at the government benches, which included Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Attorney General Anil Nandlall. Jagdeo later made a light-hearted remark about Mohamed’s ability to use parliamentary devices while facing extradition. Mohamed also revealed plans to nominate two individuals to replace APNU-backed Election Commissioners, though he withheld their identities. The WIN leader’s arrival in a Lamborghini, allegedly imported at a reduced declared price to evade taxes, further fueled controversy. Mohamed criticized the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) for appointing one of its members as Deputy Speaker instead of adhering to the convention of selecting an opposition member, accusing the PPPC of seeking a ‘one-state government’ and ‘full-blown dictatorship.’ APNU’s Campbell defended their decision not to support Sarabo-Halley, citing the PPPC’s majority as insurmountable.