Postponement of GECOM meeting worries Opposition Commissioners

Jul 04, 2025 News

…say critical decisions still to be made

Postponement of GECOM meeting worries Opposition Commissioners

Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander

Kaieteur News – With 57 days left to elections, Opposition-nominated Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, has expressed concerns about Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, being missing in action as the Commission is still to determine a number of critical issues.

In a letter to the press, Alexander noted that GECOM’s Thursday meeting (July 3) was postponed, not rescheduled, due to the unavailability of the Chairperson. He noted, however, that GECOM maintains its posture of readiness.

He also noted that while the GECOM and the PPP-appointed Commissioners have admonished the Opposition-appointed Commissioners for storming out of meetings in protest of GECOM’s slothful and recalcitrant approach to the essentials for free, fair and transparent elections, Justice Singh’s cancelation of yet another important meeting is not met with similar outrage.

Alexander had previously explained that GECOM is actively considering the methodology for the removal of the names of unregistered dead persons from the Register of Registrants. At a meeting on Tuesday, he said GECOM continued that discussion.

GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh

He said the Elections Commission is seeking advice from the Attorney General on the use of Form 12 for the deletion of names submitted by the Commissioner of Police and the Chief Medical Officer. Form 12 is a method that is provided for in law for the removal of the names of dead persons via a verification process. This newspaper understands that GECOM has a consensus with the use of Form 12 for the removal of names.

Additionally, Alexander explained that while the Returning Officers (ROs) and Supernumerary Returning Officers (SROs) have been approved, the approval of Deputy Returning Officers (DROs) and Deputy Supernumerary Returning Officer (DSROs) and other staff will be considered when the spreadsheets on those applicants are presented. The sheets should detail the bases for the recommended appointments.

Kaieteur News understands that the briefing of the potential contestants is scheduled for July 19. Last month, Deputy Chief Election Officer (CEO), Aneal Giddings, told members of the press that more than 1,000 names of deceased persons have been removed from Guyana’s voters’ list.

This is based on the list of registered deaths submitted by the General Register’s Office (GRO). Giddings said the removals were based on updated records received from the General Register Office, and the cleansing of the list remains an ongoing process.

Giddings had claimed that GECOM has been stepping up preparations for the country’s general and regional elections set for September 1, 2025.

“We are making sure that the list reflects only eligible voters,” Giddings said. “This is part of our commitment to ensure a free, transparent and credible election.”

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Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh, Opposition Commissioners, Postponement of GECOM meeting, Vincent Alexander

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