Jagdeo: ‘We don’t need foreigners to win an election’

–  Says constitution and laws must be respected

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Thursday dismissed opposition claims about the presence of foreigners on Guyana’s voter list and reiterated that the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has no need to rely on fake external votes to win the upcoming 2025 elections.

Jagdeo was responding to accusations made by opposition leader Aubrey Norton, who alleged that large numbers of foreigners, including individuals from Bangladesh, were being added to the voter list.

Norton claimed that his party’s polling agents would prevent these supposed foreign nationals from voting.

However, Jagdeo firmly rejected these claims, emphasising that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), an independent constitutional body, is responsible for maintaining the voters list, not the PPP/C.

“We don’t need foreigners to win the elections. We’ve won with a solid, growing support base, even when the [APNU+AFC] controlled key institutions,” Jagdeo stated.

He also pointed out that the process of voter registration is transparent, with political parties, including the opposition, able to scrutinize the list.

He took aim at the opposition’s attempts to sow fear and confusion, warning that such statements were not only misleading but also potentially harmful to the electoral process.

“The law is clear: no one can be denied the right to vote if they are on the list,” Jagdeo stressed.

Under Guyana’s Constitution, only citizens of the country who are 18 years or older and registered with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are eligible to vote.

Foreigners are not permitted to vote, however, if a Guyanese who is registered but spends time abroad, that person once present in Guyana on polling day can vote.

In response to concerns over biometric data, Jagdeo reaffirmed the PPP/C’s commitment to upholding the Constitution, noting that while the government is open to ideas on enhancing election security, any changes must be in line with legal requirements.

Jagdeo further emphasized that the government is determined to hold the 2025 elections on time, contrary to opposition claims that the administration might seek to delay them.

“We want elections to be held on time, and that’s what the Constitution mandates,” he concluded.