AFC Raises Alarm Over GECOM List Integrity Amid Influx of Venezuelan Nationals
By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News.
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — As Guyana approaches the 2025 General and Regional Elections, the Alliance For Change (AFC) is expressing deep concern about the integrity of the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) voters’ list, particularly amid the registration of thousands of Venezuelan migrants and the absence of updated census data.
During a recent session of the National Assembly, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn revealed that 15,157 Venezuelans were registered between October 1 and November 30, 2024, with the majority concentrated in Region 1 (757). Other figures include Region 4 (23), Region 7 (101), and Region 8 (65).
Responding to this disclosure, AFC Chairman David Patterson said the party is worried that these registrations, whether legitimate or not, could influence the electoral process.
“In an election year, and without the release of the national census, the rumors and lack of transparency surrounding the GECOM list are troubling,” Patterson stated.
The AFC is calling on GECOM to implement enhanced voter identification measures, including the use of biometrics and surveillance cameras at polling stations, to safeguard the credibility of the upcoming elections.
“We must ensure the 2025 elections are free, fair, and credible,” Patterson added.
Meanwhile, AFC Leader Nigel Hughes voiced frustration over the non-release of the 2022 national census, which he says is essential to understanding how population shifts—especially due to migration—might affect voter distribution.
“With no clear data on how many Venezuelans are currently in the country, the release of the census is critical,” Hughes said.
Naturalization Trends (2021–2024)
From 2021 to 2024, 71 Venezuelans were naturalized as Guyanese citizens. The breakdown includes:
- 2021: 7 naturalized (Region 4)
- 2022: 32 naturalized (Region 3: 8, Region 4: 23, Region 6: 1)
- 2023: 15 naturalized (Region 3: 6, Region 4: 9)
- 2024: 35 naturalized (Region 3: 1, Region 4: 30, Region 10: 4)
According to Guyana’s election laws, citizens by birth, descent, or naturalization, as well as Commonwealth citizens residing in Guyana for at least one year, who are 18 years or older, are eligible to be added to the Official List of Electors.
As the nation prepares for a pivotal election, the AFC is urging vigilance and transparency, particularly in ensuring that only eligible voters are registered and that public trust in the electoral process is preserved.
