Mohamed Removes Carol Joseph as Chief Scrutineer in Opposition Shake-Up

Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has terminated the appointment of Carol Joseph as Chief Scrutineer representing the parliamentary opposition at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), with immediate effect, in a move that signals a continued restructuring of key opposition positions tied to electoral oversight.

In a letter dated April 8, 2026, seen by Village Voice News, Mohamed informed Joseph that her appointment—made under former Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton—was being ended as part of “a broader review and reconstitution of appointments made by the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.” She was directed to “cease performing any functions, duties, or responsibilities associated with the position of Chief Scrutineer as of the date of the correspondence,” while Mohamed thanked her for her service.

The letter was copied to Vishnu Persaud, Chief Elections Officer, GECOM.

The decision comes as Mohamed consolidates leadership following the September 2025 General and Regional Elections, where his We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party secured 109,066 votes and emerged as the largest opposition bloc. WIN holds 16 of the 29 opposition seats in the 65-seat National Assembly. The remaining opposition seats are held by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with 12 seats and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) with 1 seat, while the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) commands a majority with 36 seats. That parliamentary strength underpins his authority as Leader of the Opposition and gives added political weight to appointments and removals tied to electoral oversight.

Joseph’s removal is likely to be viewed within the context of Mohamed’s broader effort to reshape opposition representation in key institutions, particularly at GECOM. While no successor has yet been named, the move underscores the Opposition Leader’s intent to assert full control over appointments inherited from the previous administration and to align them with the current leadership’s direction.