President Irfaan Ali yesterday said his government was ready for Local Government Elections but gave no date for the polls, saying matters outside the government’s control still had to be settled.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has not met since September 2025, and Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has written twice to Ali about appointing three opposition commissioners. No response had been reported as of Wednesday. Without Ali making a decision GECOM will not be able to begin meeting.
Mohamed wrote to Ali on June 30 proposing attorneys Roysdale Forde SC, Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva for appointment to GECOM. He wrote again on August 7 after receiving no substantive response. Kiskadee Watch reported on November 1 that Mohamed had renewed his call for Ali to act and said his legal team had considered going to court but was concerned about how long proceedings could take.
“We’re ready for local government election. I believe that local government elections are essential for our country. The renewal of leadership is key as part of our democratic frame,” Ali told a press conference yesterday.
Ali said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic had contested every constituency in previous local elections and had outperformed its rivals. He said some of the unresolved issues lay within the opposition and that stakeholders could turn to the courts if they wanted a matter adjudicated.
“But as you’re aware, there are certain things that are outside of the control of government. And those things have to be settled,” he said.
GECOM Chair Claudette Singh has taken the position that opposition representation on the commission should change to reflect the results of the September 2025 general election. The existing opposition-appointed commissioners have refused to resign. We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) emerged as the largest opposition party at that election. Mohamed has said he wants his nominees seated so WIN can participate fully in preparations for the local polls.
Asked whether the government and opposition could work together on a constitutional amendment to reflect the new make-up of Parliament on GECOM, Ali said previous Parliaments had also included several opposition parties and that those parties had had to settle questions of representation among themselves.
“I can’t speak for the opposition. I would not allow myself to be involved in making a decision on behalf of the opposition,” he said.
Asked directly whether he would support a constitutional revision, Ali said he wanted the broader reform process to move “very, very quickly” and produce recommendations on areas of national life that needed adjustment. He gave no commitment on a specific amendment dealing with GECOM.
“I can’t nitpick on one issue. I want to see the comprehensive reform that is, I think, absolutely necessary given the current circumstances of our country and the world we operate in,” he said.
Singh has said the commission’s composition needs urgent attention and that legislation could help resolve it if the relevant constitutional authorities considered it necessary. GECOM has said its secretariat continues to provide registration services and carry out authorised administrative work, while matters requiring decisions by the full commission remain affected.
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