PNCR leader Aubrey Norton has rejected the view advanced by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed regarding the proposed appointment of three new opposition commissioners to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), arguing that the interpretation of the Constitution being relied upon by the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) is “fundamentally flawed” both in law and in fact.
In a June 10 letter seen by Kiskadee Watch, Mohamed had said there was an “ever-increasing need” for new commissioners to be appointed under Article 161(3)(b) of the Constitution and argued that the issue had become one of “particular urgency” in light of the national obligation to conduct Local Government Elections at the earliest opportunity.
Mohamed had contended that the current opposition-appointed commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman – were nominated by the previous Opposition Leader and “do not reflect the makeup of the opposition’s parliamentary configuration at present.” He said the constitutional purpose of the Opposition Leader’s advisory role is to ensure that the parliamentary opposition enjoys meaningful representation and confidence within the Elections Commission.
“The 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,” Mohamed wrote.
However, Norton, whose party is the largest in the APNU partnership, in a letter, which is dated the same June 10th and was also seen by this publication, and addressed to Mohamed, argued that Constitution does not provide for the automatic termination of a Commissioner’s tenure solely on the basis of a change in the parliamentary opposition leadership.
As such, he stated there are no concerns surrounding the status of opposition-nominated members of the elections body and whether changes in opposition leadership could trigger vacancies requiring new appointments.
Norton said he had taken note of Mohamed’s position on the matter but maintained that there were currently no vacancies on the Commission that would necessitate the involvement of the Leader of the Opposition in making new nominations.
According to Norton, the interpretation advanced in the correspondence suggesting that seats held by opposition-nominated commissioners become vacant “by operation of law” following a change in opposition leadership is not supported by constitutional provisions, judicial authority, or established practice.
He warned that such a reading, if accepted, could set a “dangerous precedent” whereby changes in political leadership would routinely trigger the replacement of commissioners, potentially undermining the institutional stability and independence of GECOM.
Norton also referenced constitutional reforms made in 2000, arguing that these were intended to strengthen the autonomy of the elections commission as a cornerstone of Guyana’s democratic framework.
He said any consideration of GECOM’s structure and functioning should be undertaken within the context of safeguarding its independence, rather than through interpretations that could compromise its stability.
The PNCR leader further suggested that any broader review of the constitutional arrangements governing the body be considered by the Constitution Reform Commission ahead of the next General and Regional Elections.
“May I take this opportunity to propose that, at this time, the focus on GECOM should be on its structure and the systemic arrangements for its functioning independently, as intended by the constitutional change. I also suggest that these views be considered by the Constitution Reform Commission for implementation prior to the next General and Regional Elections,” Norton ended the letter.
Copies of the correspondence were also sent to GECOM Chairperson Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh and Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement, Amanza Walton-Desir, who had also received a copy of Mohamed’s letter.
In his letter Mohammed had proposed three attorneys for consideration as commissioners: Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon and attorney-at-law Damien Da Silva.
The Opposition Leader had pointed to changes in government after the 2015 and 2020 elections, saying that previously appointed opposition commissioners did not continue to represent the interests of newly elected opposition parties but instead effectively remained aligned with the government of the day. He argued that the current political landscape is more diverse and requires broader representation of the opposition’s views.
The matter of GECOM’s opposition-nominated commissioners has been a source of contention since Mohamed became Opposition Leader after the September 2025 elections. His WIN party holds 16 seats in the National Assembly, compared with APNU’s 12 and the Forward Guyana Movement’s one seat. Mohamed has repeatedly argued that the commission should reflect the current parliamentary balance among opposition parties, while Norton and the three commissioners have maintained that there are no vacancies and that they can only be removed by a change in the law or a court ruling.
He has met with GECOM’s Chairperson to discuss a number of issues including representation on the body.
“We were pleased with the engagement. It was fruitful,” Mohamed had said following the meeting.
The GECOM chairperson has held the view that a new configuration of opposition members is required following the general elections last year.
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