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GECOM seeks legal officer one month before elections
Guyana Elections Commission
Kaieteur News – With just one month remaining before Guyana’s general and regional elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has issued a vacancy notice for the position of Legal Officer, after nearly four months without someone in the post.
The announcement, made on Wednesday, invites suitably qualified candidates to apply by August 7, 2025.
According to the vacancy notice, the appointed Legal Officer will work under the direction of the Commission through the Office of the Chairperson. “The incumbent will ensure that all legal and statutory requirements are met by the Guyana Elections Commission, with particular reference to all Registration and Elections and performs the tasks of the Secretary for the Commission,” the notice read.
The commission has been without a legal officer since March 3, 2025, when Attorney-at-law Kurt Da Silva’s contract expired. Da Silva, who had served as GECOM’s Legal Officer for three years, stated that his contract was due for renewal and that he had received an exemplary performance appraisal from the Chairperson, along with a recommendation for renewal.
However, the government-nominated commissioners voted against the renewal, a position supported by GECOM Chairperson Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. Their rationale centered on Da Silva’s written submissions in the Carol Smith-Joseph v. Attorney General, Commissioner of Registration & GECOM case, which they claimed contradicted instructions from the Commission.
Da Silva has since publicly disputed this claim, asserting that his submissions were circulated in advance to the Chairperson, CEO, and all commissioners. In a detailed letter to Justice Singh, he described the Commission’s press release on the matter as “replete with false and misleading statements” regarding his legal work and professional conduct. As a result, Da Silva has filed a defamation lawsuit against GECOM, seeking damages, including aggravated or exemplary damages, over statements made in the press release titled “Non-Renewal of the Employment Contract of GECOM’s Legal Officer.”
Meanwhile, GECOM has faced additional scrutiny over the reported involvement of Attorney General Anil Nandlall in providing legal advice to the Commission. Several political party leaders, including those from the Alliance For Change (AFC), have raised concerns about what they describe as a conflict of interest. In a letter to the Chairperson, AFC executive Nigel Hughes expressed unease over Nandlall’s dual role as both Attorney General and legal advisor to GECOM, questioning the Commission’s independence. A subsequent AFC press release echoed this sentiment, alleging that Nandlall’s involvement undermines public trust in the electoral body.
With the general and regional elections fast approaching, the Commission urgently requires a Legal Officer to provide legal guidance and support to election authorities, ensuring that the electoral process complies with established legal frameworks and best practices.
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