Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds, is adamant that the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s overwhelming control of state media played a significant role in what he describes as the “rigging” of the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections.
While Dr. Hinds acknowledged that questions about evidence of rigging are legitimate, he stressed that such inquiries often lack context, noting that many people seem only to be “rushing for simple answers.”
During his “Politics 101” programme last evening, Dr. Hinds told viewers that the PPP/C’s relentless messaging through the state media apparatus effectively served as a tool to manipulate the election outcome.
Indeed, the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) found that the PPP/C overwhelmingly dominated prime-time coverage on state-run broadcasters.
In its preliminary report, the EOM said that its media monitoring revealed that both Voice of Guyana Radio and NCN TV dedicated up to 92 per cent of their election-related content to PPP/C campaign activities. It noted that these outlets also aired clips promoting the ruling party without identifying them as political advertising.
In contrast, the then-main Opposition Party, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), received only about three per cent of prime-time coverage, while all other parties were “virtually excluded”.
According to the EOM, this imbalance runs counter to the public service obligation of state media and limits voters’ access to balanced information.
Even in light of this finding, Dr. Hinds said he is still being asked to produce evidence of election rigging.
“Yet I am asked for the evidence. The evidence is there! Ninety-two per cent of the coverage of the election by the National Communications Network went to the PPP, one contestant. Is the white boy said so, not me. And you’re asking the WPA to give you the evidence of rigging. That is evidence of rigging.
When you monopolize the public airwaves, it means your voice is every day hammering, hammering, hammering, hammering in people’s ears. The communications experts will tell you that if you hammer something over and over and over again, that’s what people hear,” Dr. Hinds lamented.
While both the WPA and APNU have alleged widespread irregularities during the polls, neither party has filed an official election petition.
