Dear Editor,
Local Government Elections (LGE) are due before the end of 2026. However, the impasse surrounding the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) makes postponement almost inevitable.
The Constitution, under Article 161, provides for six members: three appointed by the President, and three by the President acting on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with non-governmental political parties in the National Assembly. The former recognised opposition commissioners (Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin, and Desmond Trotman), were appointed on the advice of the former Opposition Leader, David Granger. The current Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, has moved to enact the constitutional process of appointing the current opposition commissioners and in their absence, GECOM cannot meet and therefore the Local Government Elections cannot be held.
Mr. Norton has refused to meet with the Leader of the Opposition on this matter, asserting that no vacancies exist and that the APNU appointed commissioners enjoy security of tenure. He is wrong and this matter must be tested at the CCJ. In this matter all that matters is process and the law, not what Mr. Norton thinks.
Mr. Mohamed must focus on the law and process. The APNU was correct to refuse attendance at the first meeting called on this matter since Mr. Mohamed made the grave mistake of proposing three names before consultation. That cannot be meaningful consultation.
Article 232 defines “meaningful consultation” as a formal process requiring written notice, a reasonable opportunity for considered opinion, and a written record of the consultation.
He must formally invite Mr. Norton and Ms. Walton-Desir for a second time on neutral grounds (not his WIN Party office) to meaningfully consult. If Mr. Norton refuses, Mr. Mohamed should accept nominees from the FGM and, after three documented meetings, classify the process as completed and then formally advise the President accordingly in writing. Custom dictates the third seat goes to a smaller opposition party, so Mr. Mohamed should propose two names.
This is a constitutional crisis, not political gamesmanship. Mr. Mohamed must act in good faith, document everything, and seek Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran’s advice. Without a quorum constitutionally endorsed by the President and Opposition Leader, GECOM is not operational.
The legislation empowers the Minister of Local Government to defer polls for a full year upon GECOM’s advice. This means LGE may not occur before late 2027—perhaps after the next General Elections, but so be it since we must ensure we get clear interpretation on this matter from the CCJ.
Once the Leader of the Opposition writes to the President, the ball is then in the President’s court. If not, Mr. Mohamed will bear full responsibility for failing to fulfill his constitutional mandate if this matter remains as it is today.
Yours faithfully,
Khemraj Harryram
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