Following a series of stakeholder discussions in Georgetown, Guyana in June 2026, The Carter Center today called on Guyanese officials to implement the recommendations in its final report on Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections.
“The Carter Center notes with considerable concern the current impasse surrounding the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Without a fully functioning commission, GECOM will be unable to organize local government elections by the statutory deadline this year, and will be unable to implement reforms to strengthen electoral processes in adequate time before Guyana’s next General and Regional Elections”, the Center said in a statement.
The Center welcomes the statement by the Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC following the elections acknowledging the need to amend the Constitutional Reform Act (2022) to reflect the current configuration of parliamentary political parties. The Center said it made this recommendation in its report and encouraged the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform to take action as quickly as possible.
“The Carter Center has long championed the need for constitutional reform to ensure Guyana’s electoral system and institutions better serve its people. It is critical that this process be appropriately inclusive and representative”, the statement added.
GECOM has not been meeting as its Chair, Justice of Appeal (R’td) Claudette Singh has said that new commissioners have to be nominated by the new Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed. The current opposition-nominated commissioners are saying that they are legitimately and legally in place and cannot be replaced.
During the Center’s visit in June 2026, the statement said that the delegation was honoured to meet with President Irfaan Ali and members of his Cabinet, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and a broad range of stakeholders, including other opposition political parties, GECOM, the Constitutional Reform Commission, the Ethnic Relations Commission, leaders from the private sector and civil society, citizens interested in electoral reform, and members of the international community.
“These discussions provided an important opportunity to exchange views on strengthening and advancing Guyana’s democratic institutions. Conversations focused on several priority areas identified in the Center’s final report, including reform of election management bodies, the development of comprehensive campaign finance legislation, efforts to improve the media environment, expanding civil society, and measures to enhance transparency and public confidence in the voters’ list”, the statement added.
The Carter Center encouraged the continued engagement of the many Guyanese stakeholders committed to advancing these recommendations and strengthening democratic governance.
It also acknowledged that this important work continues as the nation grieves over the sinking of the MV Barima.
“The Carter Center extends its deepest sympathies to the Guyanese people and offers our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this tragedy. May the nation find comfort, strength, and unity as it honors those who perished”, the statement said.
The Carter Center has played a major role here in electoral reforms and related matters going all the way back to 1990.
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