Biometrics are already part of the Election process in Guyana

Dear Editor,
Biometrics are already in the election process in Guyana. However, the continuous call for further, biometrics will require further constitutional changes. Hence, the three masqueraders, in the Guyana Election Commission will have to continue their dancing and political rhetorics.
Electronic fingerprint and retina identification are technologies that will come only with further constitutional changes. Guyanese, are fully cognizant of the fact that these same three masqueraders, were there when the APNU/AFC, after using the illegal false ‘broad sheet’ in 2015, was hurriedly and shamefully catapulted into office. They supported the APNU/AFC Government in passing legislation for this country to hold continuous registration to facilitate the holding of Elections in this country. The PPP/C was not even in the Parliament when the APNU/AFC made the changes to the Act: which permitted the Guyana Elections Commission to hold continuous registration and update the voters list. The same APNU/AFC, Government held two Elections with the same voters list. It was the same three Commissioners who agreed for the Guyana Elections Commission to hold Local Government and later Regional and National Elections with the same Voters list and declared that even the 2020 Elections was free and fair.
Guyanese, will certainly be subjected to the usual rhetorics’ of ‘bloated’ list. However, since 1992, in Guyana we have the very effective system, where Political Parties are allowed by law to appoint scrutineers to each registration exercise. These scrutineers are selected by the respective Political Parties and they are paid by the Government. Scrutineers work closely with the GECOM officials and they must scrutinize every transaction and sign off on the entire process. After, the continuous registration process there is a further period of Claims and Objections where the List is made public and all Political Parties and the Public in general are allowed to make sure that all information is true and correct. The scrutineers, during the continuous registration and the claims and objections, make sure that no fake names are included during the registration process.
However, it must be noted that non- residents are entitled to be on the list and that accounts for the size of the list. Article 59 provides that subject to the provisions of article 159, every person may vote at an election if he or she is of age eighteen years or older, and is either a citizen of Guyana or a Commonwealth citizen domiciled and resident in Guyana. Further, Article 159, clearly establishes that voters are required to be registered and provides the basic qualifications for registration. Hence, the constitutional requirements/qualifications that are necessary for a citizen to have the right to vote, are(a) eighteen years of age; (b) a citizen of Guyana; (c) a commonwealth citizen domiciled and resident in Guyana; and (d) registered to vote.
The opposition and the prattlers can continue to cry crocodile tears as elections day draws nearer. GECOM must continue to do what is necessary constitutionally and prepare to hold National and Regional Elections when due.
The recent announcement that GECOM secretariat’s preparations are on schedule for the holding of Elections is indeed heartening and most encouraging. Guyana, must do away with that ugly stigma of the famous, “rigged elections”.

Sincerely,
Neil Kumar