Former top GECOM official now data commissioner

Last Updated on Saturday, 7 February 2026, 10:31 by Writer

Former deputy chief elections officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Aneal Giddings has been appointed Guyana’s Data Protection Commissioner under the Data Protection Act, Prime Minister Mark Phillips said on Friday night.

He confirmed to Demerara Waves Online News Mr Giddings’ appointment after first telling the National Assembly that a data commissioner was appointed on January 2.

Mr Giddings, an information technology expert, tendered his resignation in December 2025.

The Prime Minister sought to assure Guyanese that with the appointment of the Data Protection Commissioner, personal information collected will be safeguarded for the issuance of the electronic identification card. “We have established the independent oversight necessary to ensure that every byte of data collected meets the highest international standards of privacy and security,” he said. Mr Phillips said he would “very soon” issue an order to activate the 2023 Data Protection Act.

He hinted that at the end of the current voluntary electronic identification card registration, that process would become compulsory. “While we have adopted a phased approach to implementation, let me be clear Mr. Speaker, this process is governed by law. The current pilot phase is strictly voluntary,” he said.

The Data Protection Act does not specify a penalty for failing to register.

The Prime Minister said the data being captured are already being legally provided to other state registries such as the Guyana Revenue Authority, General Register’s Office and the Immigration Department of the Guyana Police Force. “This is simply a consolidation of existing legal records into a more secure format,” he said. We have established the independent oversight necessary to ensure that every byte of data collected meets the highest international standards of privacy and security.