In a startling revelation, Bharrat Jagdeo has been officially designated as “President” on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) List of Candidates, which has been gazetted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections. Equally perplexing is the listing of President Irfaan Ali as an “economist,” a title he does not formally hold nor is so qualified.
The gazetting of the list by GECOM lends it official and legal weight, even though the contents are factually and constitutionally inaccurate. This move has raised serious concerns among observers, as it could mislead the public and breach constitutional norms.
Under Act No. 17 of 2001, enacted through a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, no individual is permitted to serve more than two terms as President.
Jagdeo, having already served two terms, is therefore barred from seeking a third. This position was upheld by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on June 26, 2018, which ruled—by a 6-1 majority—that Guyana’s term limits are valid and enforceable, overturning earlier decisions by the local courts.
The legal challenge had originated in 2014 when private citizen Cedric Richardson, widely believed to be fronting for the PPP, brought the matter before the High Court, ultimately failing to overturn the constitutional restriction.
Reacting to the development, Randy Gopaul, political scientist and contributor to this publication, described the situation as “repulsive.” He stated:
“Imagine GECOM allowing such a glaring misrepresentation to pass. One can only imagine how many other errors exist on the Candidates List and the Preliminary Voters List.”
Gopaul further stated that this mislabeling not only undermines credibility but also signals Jagdeo’s persistent attempt to re-enter executive power through the back door. He has called on GECOM to immediately rectify the misinformation to preserve the integrity of the electoral process.
The integrity of the gazetted list is now under intense public scrutiny, especially given its legal weight and its role in guiding the conduct of the upcoming elections.
