APNU scolds WIN leader over call for removal of GECOM commissioners, silence on GECOM Chairman

Last Updated on Friday, 30 January 2026, 20:33 by Writer

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton on Friday scolded main opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed for failing to tackle the larger problem at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) instead of merely focussing on the removal of the three opposition-nominated election commissioners.

His reaction came in wake of We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) leader Azruddin Mohamed’s intended move to call on the APNU-aligned GECOM commissioners Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman to resign.

Mr Norton told a Thursday news conference that it did not look well for an opposition party to go to GECOM only to be informed that it could not do anything.

“It shows you’re not doing your homework. You might be obsessed with getting rid of those who were appointed before but you need to do your homework so that you can deal with the issue properly,” Mr Norton told his party’s weekly news conference.

WIN said that now that it is the main opposition party, it is entitled to representation on the seven-member GECOM.

The PNCR-APNU leader said Mr Mohamed took a short-sighted approach by opting to consult with the Chairman of GECOM, Retired Justice Claudette Singh about the fate of Messrs Alexander, Corbin and Trotman.

“Were he an astute politician and he was properly advised, rather than run to the public and say ‘Alexander dem must go’ and then run to GECOM, he would have engaged. Let us have an understanding and let’s work out the changes to occur and how it will occur,” Mr Norton said.

But Mr Mohamed told Demerara Waves Online News that he telephoned Mr Norton several days ago but did not get a response.

Mr Mohamed said he has invited the three APNU-aligned commissioners to a meeting on Sunday.

At the same time, Mr Norton said the law is clear and so he supported Messrs Alexander, Corbin and Trotman remaining as election commissioners. “I believe the law is clear. The commissioners are within their right to stay and I support them until probably there is a change in law,” he added.

Mr Norton maintained that once appointed a GECOM commissioner, that person remains in office because “it’s a permanent commission and unless there is a change in law, those commissioners will remain.”

PNCR executive member Ganesh Mahipaul said when commissioners are appointed, they “serve at the behest” of Guyanese, not necessarily political parties which no longer have leverage to remove them.

Article 225 of Guyana’s Constitution provides for the removal of, among others, the GECOM Chairman and commissioners for reasons of infirmity of body or mind, any other cause whatsoever, or for misbehaviour.

There are specific functions of the President and a tribunal as may be necessary.

Mr Norton said Mr Mohamed should have advocated for the removal of the GECOM Chairman who had been frequently cited for allegedly making decisions largely only in favour of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC).

APNU parliamentary leader, Dr Terrence Campbell pointed out that nothing had been said about the GECOM Chairman. “I would venture further to say that if I had to identify a problem with GECOM, I would first identify the chairperson as the source of most of the problems rather than the opposition commissioners,” he said.

Mr Norton added that it was “instructive” that WIN was going after the commissioners who were fighting for changes in the electoral system and leave the Chairman “who has been voting with the PPP.”

“It is indicative of the fact that you support what is happening and that is unfortunate,” he said.