Commonwealth urges sweeping electoral reforms

Dec 23, 2025 News

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…calls on GECOM to prioritise adoption of biometrics for next elections

(Kaieteur News) – The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has called for urgent reforms to strengthen the independence of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), modernise campaign finance laws, improve voter registration, and enhance inclusion and transparency, even as it commended Guyana for conducting largely peaceful General and Regional Elections on 1 September 2025.

Among one of its recommendations the group also called for the adoption of biometric technology early in the next elections cycle to enhance integrity, efficiency and credibility in the electoral process and that registration card of Commonwealth citizens should clearly identify the name of the Commonwealth country of citizenship.

The group also called on GECOM to publish disaggregated data on the number of registered electors from Commonwealth countries, stating the respective countries and number of electors. It also wants to see a more robust and consistent public education/awareness by GECOM on the eligibility of voters, including Commonwealth citizens. Both issues of biometrics and commonwealth citizens being eligible to vote here were top complaints by the opposition heading into the September 1, 2025 general and regional elections here.

In its report, the Group stressed that while Guyana’s electoral and legal framework provides a sound constitutional foundation, persistent challenges, particularly the politicisation of GECOM, judicial delays, uneven voter registration, and gaps in data collection continue to undermine public confidence in the electoral process. Addressing these issues, the Commonwealth said, is essential to consolidating electoral integrity and democratic governance ahead of future polls.

The recommendations follow the deployment of a Commonwealth Observer Group by Secretary-General Hon Shirley Botchwey, after a Pre-Election Assessment Mission held from 19 to 26 July 2025. The 10-member Group, made up of eminent persons and led by a chair, was present in Guyana from 23 August to 7 September 2025, observing campaign activities and election day operations across seven regions.

During its mission, the Group engaged extensively with political leaders, electoral authorities, security forces, civil society organisations, the media, and international partners. Observers also monitored the conduct of the campaign and the administration of the polls in a politically charged environment shaped by rapid economic transformation and deep-seated political polarisation.

The 2025 elections took place against the backdrop of Guyana’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies following the discovery of major offshore oil reserves in 2015. Observers noted that the high economic stakes intensified political competition, as voters viewed the elections as pivotal to the management of oil revenues, wealth distribution, and governance reforms. At the same time, Guyana’s long-standing territorial dispute with Venezuela over the Essequibo region—now before the International Court of Justice—added to the broader national context.

Despite a pre-election environment marked by mistrust in the electoral system and growing political fragmentation, the Group found that fundamental freedoms of assembly, expression, and campaigning were largely respected. The Ethnic Relations Commission’s Code of Conduct, designed to discourage hate speech and promote non-violence, was highlighted as a positive initiative to address ethnic polarisation, although the Group noted that not all political parties signed on due to concerns about enforcement. The Commonwealth observers praised the calm and orderly atmosphere in which the elections were conducted, commending the electorate, security forces, GECOM, and political leaders for respecting election-related procedures and reinforcing public calls for peace and national unity in the lead-up to polling day.

The Group also acknowledged the Commonwealth’s longstanding engagement in supporting Guyana’s electoral processes, including the provision of Good Offices and technical assistance. It noted the deployment in both 2020 and 2025 of senior electoral experts—Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, former Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, and Dr. Nasim Zaidi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India to support GECOM.

While lauding the Government’s efforts to harmonise and modernise electoral legislation through amendments to the Representation of the People Act and the National Registration Act in 2022, the Group cautioned that legal reforms must be matched by consistent and transparent implementation.

On inclusion, the report welcomed notable progress in women’s political participation, including the presence of two female presidential candidates and three female prime ministerial candidates, and the fact that women now account for more than one-third of Parliament. However, it underscored the absence of sex-disaggregated data within GECOM, which limits effective planning and accountability. The Group further noted the continued underrepresentation of youth, persons with disabilities, Amerindian peoples, and civil society actors, urging stronger data collection, inclusive policy enforcement, and sustained civic engagement.

Overall, the Commonwealth Observer Group concluded that while Guyana’s 2025 elections were conducted in a peaceful manner and broadly reflected respect for democratic principles, meaningful reforms and the implementation of longstanding recommendations remain critical to improving electoral credibility, strengthening public trust, and ensuring more inclusive participation in future elections.

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• biometrics, Commonwealth, Commonwealth Observer Group, electoral reforms

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