The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)’s “continued laxness” in upholding key elements of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) has been noted by the A New and Unity Guyana (ANUG).
In a statement yesterday, the party said that Campaign Financing Regulations 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,” ANUG said.
It added, “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.”
The updating of Guyana’s Campaign Financing law was one of the recommendations made by the European Union (EU) Election Observer Mission (EOM) back in 2020.
Laws about campaign finance in Guyana are outlined in the Representation of the People Act. Head of the EU Mission, Urmas Paet was quoted as calling the law “completely not adequate”, recommending a “refresh”, coupled with “more open, and clearer rules” to ensure a more transparent system.
Five years later, the recommendation remains unimplemented.
