Yesterday, (May 27, 2025), the three opposition nominated commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) held an exclusive press conference to say that GECOM is not ready to hold an election on September 1, 2025, following President Ali’s announcement in his Independence Day speech. And reportedly, the opposition commissioners walked out of a GECOM meeting on the subject of the holding of the general and regional elections on September 1, 2025.
Editor, this behaviour demonstrated by the opposition-nominated commissioners, though not unusual whenever it is that time for the holding of national elections, signals that they are yet to receive directives from Congress Place. Because it is not GECOM that is not ready for an election, it is the opposition, the APNU+AFC that is in no way shape or form ready for election 2025, hence, the shenanigans.
Article 60 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is clear. It states that: “An election of members of the National Assembly under Article 60 (2) shall be held on such day within three months after dissolution of Parliament as the President shall appoint by proclamation.” With the Independence Day announcement made by the President, we can therefore expect the aforesaid proclamation by the President shortly.
Further, it is important to note that according to the Constitution of Guyana, there are practically three scenarios under which a national election may be held: (i) when it is constitutionally due in accordance with the normal election cycle period (every five years), (ii) snap election (a snap election can be called anytime due to various factors and circumstances), and (iii) a No Confidence Motion (NCM; as in the case of 2018-2020). In all three scenarios hereof, the constitution mandates that the national election shall be held within three months.
In view of the foregoing, let us not be misguided or distracted by the whims and fancies of a hopeless bunch. The Chairman of GECOM is the appropriate and authorized personnel to indicate GECOM’s readiness for an election, to his Excellency the President, which she did according to law.