Call for Possible Removal of GECOM Chair Over Prolonged Inaction

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Elections Commission last met on September 7, 2025, at which meeting the responsibility, as provided for in the Representation of the Peoples Act, in relation to the declaration of the results of the General and Regional Elections was partially executed.

To wit, the results of the regional elections were never presented for approval, as well as other statutory responsibilities were not undertaken.  For approximately one year, to-date, the Chairperson has not summoned any subsequent meeting. Her  documented pretext, for not calling a meeting, is that she was awaiting parliamentary action in relation to the composition/reconstituting of the Commission.

This is tantamount to a dereliction of duty since it is not within her jurisdiction to determine whether nominees of the Leader of the Opposition, who were duly appointed as commissioners, and whose instruments of appointment are open-ended,   have a finite term; or to determine the duration of the life of the Commission.

Yet, she has stoutly refused to call meetings of the Commission and in doing so has usurped the functions of the Commission, such as the determination of the Commission`s annual work programme and the complimentary budgetary estimates; while impeding the preparation for local government elections, which cannot be proceeded with in its fullness, in the absence of a functioning commission, just to mention two examples.

While the jury is still out on the insistence of the new Leader of the Opposition that the previously appointed nominees of the previous Leader of the Opposition should demit office, the status quo ante remains. In this circumstance, the Chair is guilty on two counts; impeding the functioning of the Commission, and usurping the authority of the Commission. These are tantamount to constitutional infractions that may well result in the invocation of Article 225 of the Constitution: Removal from office of certain persons. The Chair`s actions are tantamount to “misbehaviour”, a condition precedent  for the invocation of removal procedures.

Yours truly,
Vincent Alexander
GECOM Commissioner