President Irfaan Ali’s recent announcement that Guyana’s General and Regional Elections will be held on September 1, 2025, has raised significant concerns among opposition-appointed members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and broader segments of the public. The announcement, made during Independence Day celebrations, caught many—including GECOM commissioners—by surprise.
In an op-ed by veteran journalist Adam Harris, he pointed out that opposition commissioners stated possible election date would be after September 22, based on the commission’s own internal assessments.The September 1 date, the commissioners argue, was not only unexpected but also announced without consultation. They say they were informed of the decision at the same time as the general public.
In previous years, journalists and the public were kept informed of GECOM’s progress through regular briefings. These updates included timelines and work plans detailing the commission’s preparedness for elections.
However, Harris notes that such transparency has waned. The opposition commissioners now allege that GECOM has abandoned efforts at consensus-building and accuse the commission’s Chairperson ret’d Justice Claudette Singh, of acting unilaterally, even informing the President of the commission’s readiness without formal approval.
In a letter to the editor, the Opposition Commissioners reiterated their stance that the Chairperson’s advice to the President—that GECOM could be ready for elections by September 1—was “unilateral.” They argued that the Chairperson “purported to speak on behalf of the Commission, which had not deliberated and/or made a decision on that matter. In fact, the Commission had been advised quite differently by the CEO [Vishnu Persaud]. His subsequent and contrary advice to her required the fiat of the Commission for it to have been treated as the Commission’s advice to the President.”
The Commissioners further allege that the Chair has consistently aligned herself with commissioners appointed by the ruling PPP, raising concerns about her impartiality. Chairperson Singh’s voting record is said to closely mirror the PPP’s positions—a pattern many critics view as a sign of her unwillingness to foster consensus between the two sides, which is the intended function of the Commission.
This, Harris writes, marks a stark contrast to the approach of the previous Chair Dr.Steve Surujbally, who made deliberate efforts to avoid even the appearance of political affiliation.
A key issue fueling the controversy is the voters’ list, which the opposition says includes approximately 200,000 names that should be removed. Their request to highlight these names for special scrutiny was reportedly dismissed, prompting fears of electoral fraud.
“Without a credible list, these elections cannot be deemed free or fair,” one commissioner stated. Yet the main Opposition- namely the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Alliance for Change (AFC)- seems more desirous of participating in a flawed process than intensifying agitation to achieve necessary reform.
Harris also draws attention to growing national security concerns, including reports that Spanish-speaking individuals allegedly threw explosive devices at a police outpost and an electrical station in Georgetown. Though unconfirmed, such incidents, if true, would mark a dangerous escalation of internal instability.
These security concerns are compounded by growing unease over the influx of Venezuelan migrants. While government estimates place the number at around 40,000, public perception suggests the figure could be significantly higher. Notably, the Foreign Secretary recently stated in a social media post that approximately 100,000 people of Venezuelan ancestry now reside in Guyana, either directly or indirectly. “Shouldn’t this reality give ALL Guyanese a cause to be alert?” he wrote. “People’s vigilance is equivalent to people’s power and defense.”
The opposition has long warned that unchecked migration could be exploited for political purposes, potentially inflating the voters’ list and compromising national security—particularly at a time when Venezuela is actively contesting Guyana’s territory.
Former Prime Minister Hamilton Green, in a letter to the press, raised concerns after reportedly receiving credible information that Freedom House is facilitating a so-called “Late Registration” process for numerous Venezuelans who have entered Guyana illegally through the country’s porous borders. According to Green, these individuals will be registered as Guyanese citizens, issued National Identification Cards, and granted the right to vote.
Independence Day, typically marked by patriotic celebration, took on a muted and somber tone this year. There were no national awards announced, and apart from the flag-raising ceremony, there were no major public festivities. Harris notes that this atmosphere of restraint reflects a broader national mood of unease.
Adding to public anxiety is the unresolved case of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, whose death has sparked national outrage. Her lifeless body was found in the pool of the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, on April 24, 2024 — less than 24 hours after the Guyana Police Force claimed she had left the premises in a red car. That misleading statement was later retracted by the police.
Young is now being posthumously honoured by a United State Congressional Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, but no date has been set for her burial.
As Harris concludes, these developments—ranging from electoral uncertainty to public safety and justice—paint a picture of a nation facing multiple, interlinked challenges. With elections now just three months away, the calls for transparency, fairness, and national unity are only growing louder.
