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GECOM Chair awaits opposition nominees to fully constitute commission
…says delays hampering preparation for local govt elections
By Rehanna Ramsay
(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) cannot move forward with its work until it is properly constituted to represent Guyana’s current political dispensation. This is the position of Chairperson Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh.
Justice Singh told Kaieteur News on Monday that until the new leader of the opposition, Azruddin Mohamed submits the names for his nominees from the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) to fill the opposition seats, GECOM cannot move forward with its work.
Chairperson of GECOM retired Justice Claudette Singh.
According to the chair, this includes critical work such as preparations for the Local Government Elections (LGE) which were originally slated for November of this year, as well as the filling of vacancies within the commission.
Justice Singh recalled during a meeting with Mr. Mohamed last January, that he was told to submit the names of his nominees but he never did.
“The new opposition leader has not yet, although we told him he came to visit us. We told him, you will then, you have to submit the names of your commissioners. He has not done so. That’s one of the main things. So, he has to go and get his commissioners in there…He decided when he came here, he said he had names, he had the people already, but he has now named them to us. So, you’re basically waiting on him, and that’s it… We’re waiting on him. He has the name as commissioners.”
Justice Singh emphasised that as head of GECOM, she has chosen to tread cautiously given the new political dispensation.
“I cannot move forward taking the law into consideration. If I call a meeting, now, the next day he (Mohamed) will carry me to court or something…for excluding their party.”
Last January, Mr. Mohamed announced plans to formally request that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)-appointed commissioners on GECOM vacate their seats.
The move came shortly after Mohamed’s election as leader of the opposition, a position previously held by the People’s National Congress-led APNU, whose nominees currently occupy the three opposition seats on GECOM.
The opposition leader and his team later met with Justice Singh and Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud to discuss the appointment of scrutineers and the status of the commissioners following his election as the new opposition leader which reflects a changed dynamic in parliament. It was noted that the commission must reflect the composition of the new opposition.
Opposition commissioner Vincent Alexander had strongly opposed the notion of stepping down to allow members of the new main opposition to occupy seats on the commission. He said the law does not provide for them to be removed or resigned.
Alexander bemoaned the fact that the last time the commission met was September 7, 2025 “So the commission has not been meeting to approve any of the critical matters related to the proper functioning of GECOM,” he asserted.
The GECOM commissioner noted however that even in the absence of those meetings, GECOM submitted a budget estimate which was later approved by the parliament.
“That is not even in keeping with the constitutional framework of how the commission should be run. At present, there are number of key vacancies including that are yet to be filled. So, now I am unable to say at the moment what is the position with the local government elections”
It was noted then while the commission is moving ahead with plans for the LGE, vacancies still exist for the key officers within GECOM.
The vacancies include the Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Assistant Chief Election Officer (ACEO), Legal officer, Information Technology manager, research officer and chief accountant.
All of these positions, Mr. Alexander said are critical of the hosting of the LGEs.
Local government elections were last held in June 2023.
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It could end up in a ‘brawl’ at GECOM if the APNU commissioners still remain in their positions and the WIN selected commissioners attend to be properly seated!!!!