Elections

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) on Sunday called on the new Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson to resist pressure for halting house-to-house registration, amidst incessant calls by the opposition for elections to be held swiftly with a claims and objections period to update the existing voters’ list. “Justice (Claudette) Singh’s first task has to do with the contentious issue of ...

By GHK Lall After the tumultuous and troubling, a much-needed first step has been achieved and is now official: There is a chairperson. I suppose that many of us will have to get used to addressing the new leader of GECOM by this gender neutral title, in view of this unprecedented development of a woman as chair. As I congratulate ...

Key diplomats on Friday afternoon welcomed the appointment of retired Justice Claudette Singh as the new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). British High Commissioner Greg Quinn tweeted, “I welcome this extremely positive development. I look forward to meeting the new GECOM chair. All relevant actors are to be congratulated on this agreement. #Guyana”. Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, ...

Retired Justice Claudette Singh is the new Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), government and the opposition confirmed. “We’re very, very happy with this development. The process was consensual.  The names on the list enjoy my confidence and enjoy the confidence of the President. They were found not unacceptable to him and, therefore, he chose from a list not ...

President David Granger on Thursday assured that he was working with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to generate a list of six acceptable nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). “I’d meet him again and again until a Chairman is appointed,” he said, noting that he met Jagdeo on July 4 and 16 and their emissaries ...

President David Granger on Thursday stressed that the court could not instruct when general elections must be held because the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is an independent agency and that his administration remained committed to “free, fair and credible” elections with an acceptable voters’ list. “The President cannot tell the Elections Commission (when elections) must be held; neither can the ...

Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire on Wednesday said the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) indicated that elections must be held by September 18 or another date if Parliament grants an extension. “The Honourable Chief Justice (ag) stated that the consequential orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice indicate that elections be held by September 18, 2019, or such longer period as ...

Hundreds of Lindeners have so far registered since the commencement of house-to-house registration on July 20, a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) spokeswoman said. Among those who jotted down their names to be included in a new National Register of Registrants are potential first-time voters and regional officials, who are ensuring they set the example in getting registered promptly. GECOM teams ...

Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield on Tuesday said he would have to conduct an exercise to determine if the voters’ list and, if refreshed, could be used to conduct a free and fair election. “That’s correct. Always has and always will,” he told reporters when asked if the list, if refreshed, could be used to conduct a free and fair ...

Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire on Tuesday refused political commentator, Christopher Ram’s request for an order to stop the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from continuing its now four-day old house-to-house registration process. Ram’s Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall said the judge did not grant the conservatory order in an in-Chambers hearing. He said the Chief Justice did not find sufficient evidence to convince ...