Giddings Resigns from GECOM as Election Data Concerns Persist

Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Aneal Giddings, has resigned from the constitutional body, with his departure set to take effect in January 2026. Giddings confirmed his resignation to News Source, less than three years after his controversial appointment to the post in 2023.

Giddings, who previously served as GECOM’s Information Technology (IT) Manager, was elevated to the DCEO position despite resistance from the three Opposition-nominated Commissioners. At the time, the Opposition Commissioners maintained that he did not meet the qualifying criteria for the post. His appointment was ultimately approved after GECOM Chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, exercised her casting vote.

The DCEO position had remained vacant for nearly two years following the removal of former DCEO Roxanne Myers after the disputed 2020 General and Regional Elections.

While Giddings brought technical expertise in software engineering and systems management—including experience with national registration systems and training in e-governance and cybersecurity through the DiploFoundation in Malta—his tenure as DCEO was accompanied by sustained concern from opposition parties, civil society groups, and election observers over GECOM’s handling of key electoral processes.

As GECOM’s lead spokesperson on election operations, Giddings frequently addressed issues related to voter list integrity. However, the long-standing concern over the removal of deceased persons from the Official List of Electors remained unresolved. Instead, opposition parties point to GECOM’s reliance on a court ruling, referenced by Giddings, which allowed for continuous registration and resulted in the voters’ list expanding to nearly the size of the country’s population. This issue was repeatedly flagged by local stakeholders and international election observers.

Opposition parties and election observers have also expressed concern that the bloated voters’ list, combined with the absence of biometric safeguards, created vulnerabilities within the electoral system, increasing the risk of electoral manipulation. Giddings’ stewardship of these matters has remained a central point of dispute.

Preparations for the 2025 General and Regional Elections under Giddings’ watch were also marked by complaints of inconsistency and lack of transparency. Announced engagements with political parties and public briefings were at times delayed or did not materialise, while logistical arrangements—including ballot distribution and voting procedures for members of the Disciplined Services and border communities—were reported to have encountered difficulties. Concerns were also raised regarding party agent accreditation during voting exercises.

Reports that Giddings is expected to assume a senior role at the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) have generated renewed scrutiny. The NDMA is responsible for managing and safeguarding state data systems and is expected to play a central role in the rollout of Guyana’s electronic identification (E-ID) card programme. Opposition figures and governance advocates argue that Giddings’ transition from GECOM to the NDMA raises serious questions about data governance and political influence, particularly amid claims that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government has benefited from weaknesses in electoral systems. These allegations remain contested and have not been addressed publicly by Giddings or the government.

GECOM has not yet announced a timeline for filling the impending vacancy in the DCEO position, as questions persist over institutional credibility, data integrity, and public confidence ahead of future elections.