GECOM probes fraudulent ID application using voter’s details

…cops called in as SOP breach uncovered

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has launched an internal investigation after it was unearthed that someone used the details of another registered voter to fraudulently apply for a national identification (ID) card.
In a statement on Thursday, GECOM said this discrepancy was discovered in the Revised List of Electors (RLE) that is currently on display across the country to allow stakeholders the opportunity to examine it for accuracy.
With reference to this specific irregular registration transaction, the Elections Commission said the necessary remedial action was taken, which is statutorily permissible during the prescribed 21-day period for the display of the RLE.
“Immediately upon being notified of the incorrectness, the GECOM Secretariat launched an internal investigation, which revealed that the occurrence was due to non-compliance with established procedures at the level of the concerned registration offices, which involved accepting applications for a replacement ID card and change of address by a random person using the registration particulars of a genuine registrant/elector,” the commission detailed.
According to GECOM, “Having recognised by way of internal queries that the registration records of a legitimate registrant/elector were altered without his involvement, the Chief Election Officer instructed that the unlawful transactions be reversed. This was done. The replacement ID card that was prepared is still in the Commission’s possession. The card will be destroyed.”
The Elections Commission added that an in-person discussion was held with the concerned registration officials. As a result of that discussion, it was determined that firstly, there was a breach of the standard operating procedures by registration staff throughout the system; and secondly, the staff who interacted with the person who visited the office to make the applications could not provide logical explanations for his actions in the matter.
“Consequently, the police were invited to carry out investigations to determine whether actions of the concerned registration officials amount to a criminal offence,” the missive from the Commission stated.
Moreover, GECOM further publicly acknowledged that two erroneous transactions were conducted at one of its registration offices. In the same breath, however, the Elections Commission has assured stakeholders, especially the bona fide registrant who was affected, that had the established registration procedures been followed, then the incorrectness would not have occurred.
“Insofar as the breach of procedures is concerned, the Commission is currently conducting an internal investigation to ensure that there is no recurrence,” GECOM reassured.
Nevertheless, the Elections Commission used Thursday’s missive to remind citizens that the RLE is still on public display for scrutiny and urged all concerned to check it to ensure that their particulars are accurate.
The RLE is currently being displayed at two prominent locations in every registration division and subdivision as well as on GECOM’s website for public scrutiny until July 29, 2025. It was noted that if anyone makes a discovery of concern, then a report must be made forthwith to the respective registration office.
GECOM says it is committed to a transparent registration process that adheres strictly to the legal provisions and one in which all registration transactions conducted are scrutinised by representatives of the parliamentary political parties.
“Against this backdrop, the Commission reassures all stakeholders that there are robust mechanisms in place to guard against errors and remains committed to ensuring that its operations are transparent, credible, free, and fair and uphold the tenets of integrity and democracy,” the statement added.
GECOM has already approved the lists of candidates for six political parties to contest the upcoming September 1 General and Regional Elections in Guyana, namely, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Alliance for Change (AFC), Assembly of Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN).
However, while all six approved parties will contest in the General Elections, only four of them will contest all 10 electoral districts (administrative regions) in the Regional Elections. These are PPP, which is seeking re-election for a second term with President Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips returning as the party’s frontrunners; APNU, led by Presidential Candidate Aubrey Norton and Prime Ministerial Candidate Juretha Fernandes; AFC, with Nigel Hughes as the presidential candidate and no prime Ministerial candidate selected to date; and WIN, led by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, who is also yet to name his running mate.
On the other hand, the ALP, led by former Minister under the previous APNU+AFC coalition regime Simona Broomes, will only be contesting in districts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 in the regional elections. Additionally, FGM, with presidential candidate Amanza Walton-Desir – a former APNU+AFC Member of Parliament – will be contesting in the regional elections in districts one, two, three, four, five, six, and 10.
Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud had told reporters on the side-lines of the July 14 Nomination Day that following the approval of the parties’ lists, the next step would be designing the ballot paper, which will be sent overseas along with the tally sheets and Statements of Poll (SoPs) to be printed by Ottawa-based Canadian Bank Note Company Limited.
In the meantime, the Elections Secretariat will continue logistical work in preparation for the upcoming polls.
“[When] the ballots come back, we do extraction for the conduct of Discipline Services’ balloting, and then we pack ballot boxes for election day – September 1,” Persaud had explained.
Since police officers are required to be out on duty on election day, and the other discipline services are on standby, the members of these agencies customarily vote before civilians. These ranks are expected to cast their votes on August 22 – 10 days before the September 1 polling day.