The Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG) has written to the Government and the Opposition urging that prisoners be allowed to vote in elections in Guyana.
BUYDG acting President, Kellion Leps, in a letter dated September 17, said all individuals who are arrested, apprehended, detained, or held in any State custody during elections must "be given the full opportunity to exercise their right to vote."
BUYDG's founder and former general president, Micah Williams, is serving a life sentence for raping an underage girl.
His appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice is pending.
Currently, Guyana's Constitution only prohibits convicts of election offences from voting, but remanded prisoners and convicts are not allowed to cast ballots in general and regional, and local government elections.
BUYDG said prison inmates, who are Guyanese citizens, must also be allowed to participate in the decision-making processes of the government, including consultations and input on constitutional reforms, submissions for modifications to new draft laws, and other related and other applicable matters.
It said that would help with their rehabilitation and smooth transition and integration into society.
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