Arudranauth Gossai elected new Bar Association president

May 31, 2026 News

---

…amidst threats of legal action on validity of elections

(Kaieteur News) – Attorney-at-law Arudranauth Gossai was elected President of the Bar Association of Guyana on Friday evening, securing the leadership of the legal body during its 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The virtually held election saw the highest membership attendance in the Association’s history. However, the turnout followed a pre-election period marked by formal complaints from financial members regarding the transparency and procedural integrity of the voting process.

The elections for the 2026-2027 fiscal year Bar Council were fiercely contested. The slate led by Gossai, who previously served as the outgoing Council’s Second Vice-President, successfully defeated a rival block of nominees headed by attorney Darren Wade.

Joining Gossai on the newly elected executive body are former President Kamal Ramkarran, who was elected First Vice-President, and Teni Housty, who was elected Second Vice-President. Yashmini Singh was re-elected to her post as Secretary, while Samuel Glasgow and Mohanie Anganoo were elected Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, respectively.

The remaining seats on the Bar Council were filled by Senior Counsel Robin Stoby and Jamela Ali, along with Horatio Edmondson, Rea Harris, Chevy Devonish, and Ron Motilall. Attorney Rajendra Jaigobin oversaw the legal voting process as the designated Returning Officer.

While the Bar Association celebrated such high engagement, the lead-up to Friday’s ballot was clouded by growing unease within the legal fraternity. Prior to the virtual meeting, a group of financial members in good standing dispatched a formal letter to the Association’s Secretary demanding urgent clarification on the electoral framework. The members raised serious questions regarding the “identity and appointment of the Returning Officer, as well as the exact procedures governing nominations, ballot counting, and the final declaration of results.”

Furthermore, these members requested “detailed disclosures regarding the management of the virtual platform. This included questions about who would operate the backend systems, the total participant capacity, and contingency measures for potential technical disruptions. Of particular concern were reports that multiple eligible, financially compliant attorneys had not received official notice of the AGM, prompting urgent calls for the immediate publication of a verified voter eligibility list to prevent member exclusion.”

Wade in a statement on Saturday said he circulated correspondence to a number of stakeholders, including the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, several Senior Counsel, former Presidents of the Association, and Mr. Arun Gossai on the matter. In response, former President Kamal Ramkarran indicated that the Secretary, Ms. Yashmini Singh, was out of the jurisdiction and that the Council would meet to consider the concerns raised.

Wade thereafter contacted several Council members who informed him that the Council had already held its statutory meeting for the month and that the concerns raised had not been discussed.

“Mr. Wade went back to the email thread seeking from Mr. Ramkarran the notice that was sent out for the meeting.  No substantive response was subsequently provided to the issues raised.

Upon the Secretary’s return to Guyana, Mr. Wade contacted her directly regarding his concerns, particularly the request for the list of eligible voters. Ms. Singh indicated that she required the permission of the Bar Council before releasing that information.

Questions were also raised regarding the appointment of the Returning Officer, Mr. Rajendra Jaigobin. Members were not informed of the process by which the Returning Officer was selected and appointed, nor were any criteria communicated to the membership. Mr. Jaigobin is associated with Nandlall & Associates Law Firm. Concerns regarding transparency in the appointment process were not addressed prior to the elections,” the statement said.

At the commencement of the AGM, Wade said he raised concerns regarding reports that several financial members had not received the required notice of the meeting. He also questioned whether Attorneys-at-Law who were not engaged in private practice were entitled to vote in the elections.

The issue generated significant discussion among members present.

“Mr. Wade and several members contended that the Rules clearly distinguish between Full Members and Associate Members and that Associate Members are expressly prohibited from voting.

Nevertheless, Attorneys-at-Law employed by the State and State agencies were permitted to vote. Among those reportedly present were the Honourable Minister of Labour, Mr. Keoma Griffith, M.P.; the Honourable Minister of Education, Ms. Sonia Parag, M.P.; Director of Insurance Ms. Tracy Gibson; Senior Parliamentary Counsel Mr. Charles Fung-a-Fatt, S.C.; Ms. Geeta Chandan, M.P.; Mr. James Bond, M.P.; Mrs. Marcia Nadir-Sharma; and other Attorneys employed within the public sector.”

Wade reportedly raised concerns regarding the verification of participants stating that there was no comprehensive verification exercise to confirm the identity and eligibility of all persons participating in the meeting and elections.

“Several participants did not have their cameras activated throughout the proceedings,” the statement detailed. Additionally, Wade proposed a motion that the elections be suspended temporarily to facilitate a verification exercise.

“However, the Returning Officer did not put the motion to the membership for consideration or vote, and the elections proceeded without the proposed verification exercise being conducted.”

The statement noted that additional concerns were raised regarding the overall transparency of the process, including the circulation of reports during the meeting that had not been distributed to members in advance and the manner in which certain aspects of the proceedings were conducted.

“These concerns further contributed to questions regarding compliance with the Rules of the Association and the overall fairness of the electoral process.

The Guyana Bar Association plays an important role in promoting the rule of law, protecting the independence of the legal profession, and advancing the interests of Attorneys-at-Law. It is therefore essential that its elections be conducted in a manner that is fair, transparent, and beyond reproach,” Wade said while noting that the concerns raised are presently under review, and legal options, including proceedings challenging the validity of the elections, are being considered.

---

• Arudranauth Gossai, Bar Association, President

---