Dear Editor,
GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander is quoted in the December 8, 2022 edition of the Kaieteur News as follows:
‘The elections body during its statutory meeting Tuesday, also agreed on the use of electronic fingerprints at the place of poll, Commissioner Alexander said in an invited comment ….’
I attended the said statutory meeting of GECOM on Tuesday December 6, 2022 and I have to state categorically, that no such decision on use of biometrics or use of electronic fingerprints at the place of poll was adopted at that meeting of GECOM.
Commissioner Alexander has been pushing the use of electronic fingerprints/biometrics envelope aggressively at almost every statutory meeting of GECOM. However, the fact of the matter is that much more pressing issues that needed to be dispensed with, took precedence over the use of electronic fingerprints/biometrics at polling stations which Mr. Alexander was so fond of championing as a born again democrat who suddenly fell in love with free and fair elections.
Mr Alexander’s efforts in having the issue of electronic fingerprints/biometrics be placed at the top of GECOM’s agenda did not succeed since in the view of the majority of Commissioners the use of biometrics/electronic fingerprints by voters at polling stations would require legislative changes, therefore, it was not for GECOM to make legislation but to uphold electoral laws passed in the National Assembly.
Lest it be misunderstood that it was the chairman who unilaterally or whimsically who failed to prioritize discussion on electronic fingerprints/biometrics as an agenda item, I wish to make it clear that it was not the Chair, but the majority of Commissioners who agreed that the matter was not of any urgency, and moreover, because of insufficient time the matter could not be discussed.
After much deliberations about the constitutionality and statutory implications with respect to use of electronic fingerprints/ biometrics, and after hearing the arguments for and against from both sides, and recognizing that the discussion was inconclusive and non-consensual, the chair informed the meeting that she will deliver her ruling in the matter on Thursday, December 8, 2022.
In fulfillment of her commitment, the Chair presented to the full Commission a comprehensive background to the subject with its constitutional and statutory ramifications.
The Chair concluded by suggesting that a study be done on the subject before any decision could be taken on the introduction of electronic fingerprints/biometrics at polling stations.
In the circumstances, no decision was adopted to introduce electronic fingerprinting /biometrics at polling places nor was any consequential decision adopted by the Commission as regards the authority who would conduct such study, nor the timeframe for its completion and realization.
Taking all the aforesaid into consideration, I feel obligated to let the Guyanese people know that Mr Alexander’s reported claim that GECOM has agreed to the introduction of electronic fingerprints/ biometrics at polling stations is false, misleading and untruthful.
Yous faithfully,
Clement J. Rohee
Commissioner, GECOM
