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Opposition leader moves to replace APNU’s GECOM commissioners
…nominates Forde, Dhurjon and DaSilva as Norton digs in
(Kaieteur News) – Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed has written to the leaders of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU, Aubrey Norton of his preferred nominees to take up seats at the level of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
In a letter dated June 10, 2026, which was also copied to Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) party leader Amanza Walton, Mohamed revealed that he is considering advising the president to appoint lawyers Roysdale Forde SC, Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva to represent the interest of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) on GECOM.
Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed
In his letter, the opposition leader noted the increasing need for three new commissioners of GECOM to be appointed.
According to Mohamed, the matter is to be treated with urgency in light of the national obligation placed on GECOM for Local Government Elections to be conducted at the earliest opportunity.
He reminded in accordance to Article 161(3)(b) of the Constitution, the purpose of the opposition leader’s advisory role is to ensure that the parliamentary opposition enjoys meaningful representation and confidence within the elections commission.
To this end, Mohamed said he is considering advising the president to appoint the three lawyers to represent the opposition at the level of the GECOM.
He explained in the letter that “that constitutional purpose would be substantially undermined if the largest parliamentary opposition were indefinitely bound by appointments purportedly made at the instance of the former opposition leadership representing a different political mandate.”
“It is unthinkable that the constitution contemplated a situation where the leader of the opposition (or the president) would be constrained to work with, be advised by and advise GECOM commissioners appointed largely at the instance of an adversary political party or leader representing a different political mandate.”
APNU Leader, Aubrey Norton
The opposition leader said that he has been advised and presently consider that the constitution contemplates that the seats of the three opposition-advised members of GECOM have become vacant by operation of law, on account of their tenures having come to an end and being spent in the circumstances of a new principal opposition and a completely novel parliamentary configuration.
“It is also important to consider that when the governing political parties changed after elections in 2015 and again in 2020, previously opposition-appointed commissioners did not continue to represent the interests of the newly elected opposition but were effectively and implicitly ‘carried over’ and represented only the interests of the government of the day as though they were in effect government-appointed commissioners.”
Mohamed noted that the situation persisted acceptably only because of the then-prevailing two-party politics.
He asserted “That is no longer the case, and Guyana now enjoys a more diverse political landscape representative of the nuanced political views of the Guyanese people.”
“As you would be aware, the appointments of the previous commissioners, namely Mr. Charles Corbin, Desmond Trotman, and Vincent Alexander, were advised upon by the previous opposition leader from a different political party, and they do not reflect the makeup of the opposition’s parliamentary configuration at present.”
According to the opposition leader, the well-known track record of the said individuals has caused public confidence in those former commissioners to greatly diminish; this also fortifies my view that my office would not support any effort to re-appoint the said individuals as commissioners.
Nevertheless, he said he remains prepared to consider any representations advanced in support of the reappointment of any or all of those individuals, as I have not closed my mind on that issue.
“For all of the above reasons, while I have not made up my mind or finalised my decision, I am considering advising the president to appoint the [sic] individuals as the new commissioners of GECOM.”
The opposition leader notes that the individuals are merely preliminary candidates under consideration.
“I remain willing to consider any suitable alternative nominee proposed, as I have not come to a final decision,” Mohamed said
To this end, he has invited Norton to offer his views and to submit the names of any individuals, whom he would wish to have appointed as GECOM Commissioners on or before 19th June, 2026.
“Following this, you or your duly authorised representative is invited to a consultative meeting at 10:30am on 23rd June, 2026, at the WIN Headquarters at Serenity Court, Green Acres, Providence, East Bank Demerara, to give this matter further consideration.
Having regard to the national importance of this matter, the opposition leader said he intends to submit a finalised list of names to the president and to GECOM no later than 26th June, 2026.
Meanwhile in an invited comment with this publication, Norton insisted that there is no vacancy for new opposition commissioners within GECOM.
“As I have said before no vacancy exists, as far I am aware unless the current commissioners die or resign, those seats are filled,” Norton stated. He said that at this time there is nothing that can be done to cause the men to vacate the seats.
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THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
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Sir. Ronald Sanders
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NORTON is not the real Opposition Leader since the last election-HE LOST IT.
Therefore, the Three Amigos who were the GECOM commissioners,
need to take a hike. They were coordinated in their actions, behavior, absences,
walkouts, no shows etc.
They have worn out their purpose- time to give up.
Abrey need s few slaps to bring him back to the senses he lost of the years.