The Carter Center has sounded a fresh alarm over the state of Guyana’s electoral governance, warning that the ongoing deadlock over the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) threatens not only this year’s Local Government Elections but also the implementation of critical reforms before the country’s next General and Regional Elections.

In a statement issued on August 5, the internationally respected democracy and election observation organisation urged Guyanese authorities to move swiftly to implement recommendations contained in its final report on the 2025 General and Regional Elections, saying the prolonged impasse risks undermining the country’s democratic reform agenda.

“The Carter Center notes with considerable concern the current impasse surrounding the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Without a fully functioning commission, GECOM will be unable to organize local government elections by the statutory deadline this year, and will be unable to implement reforms to strengthen electoral processes in adequate time before Guyana’s next General and Regional Elections.”