…tells WIN CEO cannot act beyond legal mandate

Following concerns raised by United States (US)-sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has indicated that it lacks the authority to resolve the ongoing impasse over the appointment of his nominees as commissioners. On Wednesday, Guyana’s Leader of the Opposition (LOO) raised concerns over the non-action to appoint its nominees to GECOM. The concerns were outlined in a note circulated to members of the international community. The note was addressed to United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) SG Dr Carla Barnett, US Ambassador Nicole Theriot, British High Commissioner Joseph Fisher, the Canadian High Commissioner and the Carter Centre.

The note stated that notwithstanding the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) losing its position as the main parliamentary opposition in the 2025 elections, the party has shut down any considerations of removing any of the current APNU–appointed commissioners to make way for new Commissioners to be appointed by the new main parliamentary opposition, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), headed by US-sanctioned, Azruddin Mohamed. The note further detailed that upon the receipt of legal advice, US-indicted Mohamed wrote President Dr Irfaan Ali on June 30, seeking the appointment of his three nominees as GECOM Commissioners. Mohamed nominated lawyers Roysdale Forde, Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva to replace APNU-backed GECOM commissioners Desmond Trotman, Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin.