President David Granger on Friday predicted a “gridlock” in the process for arriving at six acceptable nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), saying that he was ready to talk with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo about the president’s role in “crafting” the list of nominees. “I’m prepared to meet the Leader of the Opposition to ...
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GECOM confirms 90-day house-to-house registration from July 20; election preparations begin
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Friday confirmed that house-to-house registration would begin on Saturday, July 20 and end in another three months. GECOM spokeswoman, Yolanda Ward said the teams have been “doubled” with the aim of completing the house-to-house registration process in “the shortest possible time” and there was a likelihood that it could be wrapped up ahead of ...
Read More »Irfaan Ali refuses to give up PPP presidential candidacy after High Court rules he must face fraud charges
Opposition People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) Irfaan Ali on Friday vowed to remain in the race for the presidency, although the High Court recently ruled that he must face trial for allegedly conspiring to defraud government of a total of GYD$174 million by selling land below their valued prices. “Not one bit! I’m not stepping aside at all. I’m here to ...
Read More »PPP mulls contempt of court action against Chief Election Officer to block house-to-house registration
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday warned that contempt of court proceedings would be filed against Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield if the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) goes ahead with house-to-house registration. “We don’t want to be caught up on the issue of a long, legal battle again but we may file contempt proceedings against Lowenfield but not to go ...
Read More »Jagdeo rejects Granger’s nominees for GECOM Chairman
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has rejected President David Granger’s nominees—Retired Justice Claudette La Bennett and Attorney-at-Law Kesaundra Alves—for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), according to a joint statement by the political leaders’ representatives. Instead, Jagdeo has submitted four additional names in the hope that two of them would find favour with Granger and are added ...
Read More »Granger, Jagdeo seem closer to agreeing on GECOM Chairman nominees
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo Tuesday evening appeared closer to coming up with six acceptable nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). “We expect that we’ll make progress in crafting a list,” President David Granger told a media briefing. In a joint statement, Jagdeo and Granger said “that from the list of five names shortlisted by ...
Read More »Western diplomats urge all abide by Caribbean Court ruling
The United States, Britain, and the European Union (EU) on Monday urged all the players in Guyana to abide by the “definitive” orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) related to the holding of general elections. “The Caribbean Court of Justice – Guyana’s Supreme Court – has spoken. It is important for the rule of law that all invoked ...
Read More »Call elections now with existing voters’ list – Caribbean political scientist
Political Scientist, Peter Wickham has recommended that President David Granger call general elections soon without house-to-house registration. Appearing on a News Talk Radio Guyana post-Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) order panel discussion, Wickham said A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition had contested previous elections, including the 2015 polls that it won, with the same list. “I personally ...
Read More »Gov’t recognises its “caretaker” role
The Guyana government Saturday acknowledged that it’s a caretaker government, in keeping with the findings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). At the same time, government said Cabinet would continue to function. “The Government accepts that it is an ‘interim’ government but emphasises that Cabinet has not stopped functioning and government must continue to provide public services. The Constitution ...
Read More »OPINION: The jurists spoke (ordered): move and do something different
By GHK Lall Amidst the searing confrontations over the selection of chair for Gecom, nobody has had the frankness, even honesty, to pinpoint and call out loudly and clearly what this death struggle condenses to at the core and deep soul of the matter. None (self included) has been unsparing enough and blunt enough to say publicly what this chair ...
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