Formal talks between opposition parties – the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) – ended on Monday without agreement on key issues such as opposition representation of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Local Government Commission (LGC). The meeting was held at the Brandsville Hotel in Georgetown and included representatives of WIN, led by United States (US)-sanctioned and indicted Oppositon Leader Azruddin Mohamed and members of APNU, led by chairman, Aubrey Norton. WIN, the main parliamentary opposition party, had invited APNU to the meeting to discuss nominees for the LGC, the status of the three opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners, the scrutineers involved in the registration process at GECOM and the election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

However, the meeting ended with no agreement on these important matters. Both Mohamed and Norton provided little details concerning the discussions, telling reporters following the more than one-hour long meeting that a joint statement will be issued. In the joint statement was not issued up to press time on Monday.

Notwithstanding the 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 at GECOM to make way for new Commissioners to be appointed by the new main parliamentary opposition WIN. Upon the receipt of legal advice, US-indicted Mohamed had written 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. GECOM has since explained that “it has no locus standi in relation to the nomination by the Leader of the Opposition of persons for appointment as Members of the Guyana Elections Commission.” GECOM explained that the nomination and appointment of commissioners are matters governed by Article 161(3)(b) of the Constitution. “GECOM is not the authority vested with responsibility for determining the validity of such nominations or appointments. Accordingly, the Commission cannot properly intervene in, adjudicate upon, or resolve any impasse concerning persons nominated by the Leader of the Opposition for appointment as Commissioners,” GECOM’’s statement further reads. GECOM’s seven-member commission comprises the Chairman, three Government appointed Commissioners and three opposition Commissioners. The appointments are governed by the Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2000. A new set of commissioners can be appointed when the Government changes.