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Will APNU or WIN make deals with the PPPC?
Dear Editor,
What would the PPPC seek in return to allow the Opposition Leader to make its choice of GECOM commissioners since the present commissioners are refusing to resign? Which party is likely to make a deal with the governing PPPC?
In return to change the Guyana constitution to empower the Opposition Leader the PPPC could seek to extend the term of office from more than the present two terms by which a President can serve.
Next the PPPC can seek to get WIN support to select the chairman of Region 4 and Region 8 because the parties are tied in a deadlock. This would create some goodwill between the two parties.
Additionally, the governing party should accelerate the decentralization of the government apparatus. The chances are the PNCR can come back to power in the future and they will victimize PPPC supporters who mainly live in the countryside.
In an opinion article in Demerara Waves on 9-18-25 Mr. Neville Bissember wrote that “The results of the 2025 elections dictate that the parliamentary representation on the opposition benches between 2020 and 2025 (mainly APNU/AFC) which had resulted in the (continued) appointment of three opposition Commissioners on GECOM, has now come to an end.”
Mr. Bissember is not exactly correct that the issue of the commissioner “has now come to an end”. The leader of the WIN party with his 16 seats is expected to become the official Opposition Leader when parliament convenes. He will supposedly be empowered to appoint replacement commissioners to GECOM. But first, the present commissioners will have to be removed. But he cannot as the opposition commissioners are refusing to resign.
In fact, the three opposition commissioners appointed by the PNC who are refusing to resign with the change in the 2025 opposition camp have cited Article 161(3)(b) of the Constitution which empowers them to remain in office.
Mr. Bissember wrote that, “The view is widely held that Commissioners can only be removed for reasons of sickness, mental illness, or misbehaviour (Article 225(2)); in other words, the contention is that they are appointed for life!”
What will Azruddin Mohamed of WIN do to get his choices of GECOM commissioners when he becomes Opposition Leader? WIN can try to make a deal with the governing PPPC with its 36 seats to change the Guyana Constitution. It will have to offer something in return to the PPPC. Alternatively, the PPPC may do nothing and let the status quo remain as is.
This combination of votes (36 plus 16) amounts to more than two-thirds of votes needed to change the Guyana constitution to empower Mr. Mohamed’s WIN to appoint the three commissioners of the party’s choice to GECOM. To accomplish this goal, the Opposition Leader will have to first make a deal with the PPPC.
Yours faithfully,
Vassan Ramracha
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