ANUG urges accountability, peaceful elections campaigning

May 30, 2025 News

Kaieteur News- A New and United Guyana (ANUG) has congratulated President Irfaan Ali for his timely and constitutionally mandated announcement of General and Regional Elections 2025.

This move reflects a commitment to democratic norms and the rule of law, which form the bedrock of our nation’s governance, the party said in a press release. “We also acknowledge the statement by the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Justice (Retired) Claudette Singh, affirming that GECOM is ready and will be ready to deliver free and fair elections within the stipulated constitutional timeline. ANUG welcomes this assurance as a critical step in maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.”

However, ANUG said while they commend GECOM’s stated readiness, “we cannot overlook its long-standing operational shortcomings, particularly evident in the 2020 General Elections. The Secretariat’s logistical and procedural missteps, many of which were publicly documented and laid bare for the world to see, must be urgently addressed. GECOM’s internal systems, personnel training, and election-day management require a serious overhaul to guarantee credibility and efficiency.”

Of note, ANUG said is the revelation of opposition-nominated commissioners that they were not informed of the decision made by the chairwoman with regard to the readiness of GECOM before the declaration by His Excellency. “Clearly all is not well at the Commission and decision making must be done transparently and in keeping with established norms and protocols,” ANUG said.

Equally concerning, ANUG said is GECOM’s continued laxness in upholding key elements of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA). “Campaign financing regulations, for example, remain effectively ignored, with no visible enforcement or accountability mechanisms. This failure undermines the spirit and letter of the law and opens the door to undue influence and opaque political financing, both of which erode public trust in our democratic system. Why GECOM continues to leave this matter unaddressed and their persistent flouting of the law only continues to diminish trust in those that lead the electoral body. ANUG hopes that General Elections 2025 will be the beginning of something different; the ball is in GECOM’s court.”

Furthermore, GECOM’s ongoing refusal or inability to clarify the matter of the true Representative of the List for The New Movement (TNM) remains a significant blemish on the Commission’s record. The lack of resolution on this matter compromises the transparency and integrity expected of our electoral body and raises serious concerns about GECOM’s impartiality and competence. “In light of the upcoming elections, ANUG calls on all Guyanese to uphold the principles of democracy by respecting each citizen’s right to choose the candidate and political party of their choice. We remind the electorate that the power of the vote lie in its equality, every vote carries the same weight, and it is through this collective exercise that the will of the people is expressed. A vote for the party of your choice is an act of celebration of your right of suffrage, something that was earned through hard work and major commitments. Even a refusal to vote, is a form of expression of your right as a citizen of our beloved nation.”

According to ANUG, for 59 years, Guyana has been governed by the same two major political groupings. “The nation has given them many chances, yet the promise of a just, inclusive, and prosperous Guyana remains unfulfilled. It is time to consider new voices and new leadership.

ANUG calls for a clean campaign season, one which is free from mudslinging, fear, threats, violence and division. We demand respect for political opponents, respect for our laws, our constitutional bodies and their representatives, and zero tolerance for any form of violence be it, before, during, or after elections. Let us seize this moment as an opportunity to recommit to democratic values, to transparency and fairness, and to a future that serves the interest of all Guyanese. Together we can, we must and we will build A New and United Guyana.”

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