Latest update October 20th, 2026 11:34 AM
GECOM is in disarray
Dear Editor,
Kaieteur News – As Guyana prepares for one of the most critical elections in its democratic history, it is deeply concerning to witness the glaring signs of administrative disarray within the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The recent scramble to recruit a Legal Officer and now an Assistant Media Liaison Officer mere days before the official start of the elections period is emblematic of a commission that appears increasingly unprepared, rudderless, and reactionary.
One must ask—where is GECOM’s planning? Where is the foresight that should have informed timely human resource forecasting? These are not ad hoc village council polls; these are national and regional elections that demand the highest levels of preparation and professionalism. Yet, this is the first time in living memory that District Returning Officers (DROs) have not been appointed by this stage. What justification can be given for such a grave lapse? By now signs are all over the place. Even people are clueless as to where to vote.
The silence of the Secretariat and the seeming paralysis of the Commission raise serious questions about whether GECOM is saving money at the expense of credibility, or worse, setting itself up for failure—an outcome that could have devastating consequences for our fragile democracy.
Public trust in electoral institutions is already waning. GECOM, instead of restoring faith, is further eroding confidence through inefficiency and last-minute maneuvering. What should have been a proactive, well-oiled operation is now a frantic exercise in patchwork management. This is arguably the worst state the Commission has ever been in. To this, it has one of its Commissioners making daily political posts.
The people of Guyana deserve better. Elections are not merely a date on a calendar—they are the lifeblood of our constitutional order. And GECOM, mandated to safeguard this process, must be held accountable when it fails to meet even the most basic standards of preparedness.
Sincerely,
H. Hinds
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