By Mark DaCosta-The recent announcement regarding the date for the upcoming general and regional elections in Guyana has ignited significant controversy among many sectors of society. The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has voiced its shock at revelations suggesting that the chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) acted unilaterally in advising President Irfaan Ali on the selection of September 1, 2025, as the election date. This situation highlights a potentially troubling development, wherein the established procedures for determining readiness for elections may have been disregarded in favour of political expediency.
The implication that the date for the elections was predetermined without proper consultation with stakeholders raises serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process. According to a commissioner aligned with the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), it appears that even other government-affiliated commissioners were not formally consulted before reaching this decision.
The WPA interprets this as a blatant attempt by the ruling party to manipulate the electoral timeline to its advantage, thus undermining the credibility of an already contentious political landscape. The chairperson of GECOM now faces mounting pressure to clarify her position to dispel the growing perception that she has ceded control of the electoral process to the president and the ruling party.
While the authority to set the election date lies with the president, it is essential for GECOM to determine when it is adequately prepared to conduct a credible electoral process. The WPA’s critique suggests that the chair has failed in this responsibility, stating, “the chairperson has a duty to refute this perception.” They highlight that this decision may exacerbate the already precarious situation regarding public confidence in GECOM, which has suffered significantly since the contentious 2020 elections.
The current environment is marked by a profound sense of mistrust, particularly towards GECOM, which has repeatedly rejected opposition suggestions for reform. Many citizens see the chair as biased due to her votes aligned with PPP commissioners. The WPA expresses that the chair and the commission as a whole have made a critical error in judgement, leading to a “willful suicide” of impartiality. Such actions, they argue, compromise any hope of unbiased and fair elections, with significant implications for the nation’s stability.
The timing of this announcement is particularly concerning, following recent political unrest surrounding unresolved issues stemming from the death of Adrianna Younge. The WPA fears that the actions of the president and GECOM could further jeopardise national stability by turning the upcoming elections into a flashpoint for conflict. They caution that if the electoral process is manipulated to favour the ruling party, the integrity of the elections and their results is inevitably called into question.
In light of these developments, the WPA has taken a stance of solidarity with the opposition-nominated commissioners, who they say have been treated as second-class members within GECOM. This calls for a more substantial role from the international community and regional organisations such as CARICOM, as they urge these bodies to leverage their influence to prevent further political turmoil. The WPA emphasises the need for action, noting that “their inaction in the face of a clear and present danger is inexcusable.”
As tension builds in the lead-up to the elections, it is clear that the controversy surrounding the date announcement has acute implications for the conduct of the electoral process in our homeland. The WPA’s unequivocal condemnation of the chairperson’s actions reflects a growing unease among the opposition and civil society, signalling that many view the elections as a critical juncture for the future of democracy in our nation.
The announcement surrounding the election date has prompted significant and widespread dissent, raising questions about GECOM’s integrity and the fairness of the polling process, with the WPA calling for urgent intervention from international bodies.
