The Guyana Elections Commission is moving ahead with early preparations for the next Local Government Elections, which are constitutionally due later this year.

As part of those preparations, GECOM has begun publishing advertisements for temporary staff and services. On Wednesday, the Commission announced that it is seeking qualified persons to serve as temporary trainers, along with vendors to produce and publish voter education materials.

Contacted by the media, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Warde, informed that the Commission is acting proactively to ensure it is ready once the elections are formally called. She explained that local government elections are held every three years under the law and are due around June 2026.

According to Warde, the advertisements are part of early operational planning to avoid delays when the official election date is announced. She noted that GECOM remains mindful of its constitutional responsibilities and is taking steps to ensure readiness.

Local Government Elections were last held in June 2023. If conducted on schedule, the upcoming polls would take place less than a year after the General and Regional Elections.

The preparations are also unfolding amid continued concerns from opposition parties over the List of Electors and renewed calls for reform at GECOM.

At the 2023 local government polls, the People’s Progressive Party Civic secured a decisive victory, winning 66 of the 80 Local Authority Areas nationwide, while A Partnership for National Unity won the remaining 14.

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Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., says he will not be commenting on the ongoing issue involving opposition-appointed members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), noting that it is a legal and constitutional matter that may eventually reach the courts.

Speaking on his weekly programme Issues in the News, Nandlall acknowledged that many persons have been asking for his views following reports that the GECOM Chair has taken a position regarding the opposition commissioners. However, he made it clear that he intends to stay out of the matter.

“GECOM is an autonomous, independent body and the chairperson has taken a position. This is obviously a legal issue involving the opposition, and they have to resolve it,” the Attorney General said.

He explained that while he was previously asked to share his views with the Commission earlier this year on a legal matter concerning laws drafted by his chambers, his input at that time was legitimate and procedural. “There was nothing wrong with my views being solicited,” he said. “I was not advising GECOM as their legal advisor.”

Nandlall recalled that when his opinion was previously sought, critics accused him of overstepping. “Every Tom, Dick, and Harrilall jumped on my back and said that I am advising GECOM and that it’s wrong and incestuous,” he remarked.

He emphasised that since the current matter could develop into a constitutional case, it would not be appropriate for him to comment publicly. “If it reaches the court, I will have to be a party because all constitutional matters require the Attorney General to be named as a respondent,” he noted.

Nandlall said those who feel aggrieved have the right to seek redress through the courts, where his legal position will be formally presented. “It’s a legal issue and they can have the matter ventilated there,” he added.

He concluded by saying he does not believe it is necessary for him to be “dragged into an opposition dispute or to comment on the independent exercise of GECOM’s prerogative on a matter that concerns GECOM.”

Back in June, then Alliance For Change (AFC) leader, Nigel Hughes, accused him of having a conflict of interest in relation to GECOM.

In a letter to GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, Hughes argued that Nandlall’s political affiliation and public stance should disqualify him from advising the Commission ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections.

However, Nandlall has firmly rejected the accusation, stressing that he is not GECOM’s legal advisor and has never claimed to be. He clarified that the Attorney General’s Chambers occasionally provides legal opinions to GECOM and other state agencies when formally requested, but that does not amount to an ongoing advisory role.

The post “This obviously is a legal issue involving the opposition and they have to resolve it”- AG declines to comment on GECOM Opposition row appeared first on Sheriff News Network - Guyana.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has intensified the implementation of its civic and voter education strategy for General and Regional Elections with several community engagements already underway countrywide, and a series of other planned activities in the coming weeks.

Read the full statement from GECOM below:

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has intensified the
implementation of its civic and voter education strategy for General and Regional Elections with several community engagements already underway countrywide, and a series of other planned activities in the
coming weeks.

This is in addition to its radio, television and social media advertising campaigns.
Over the past few days, GECOM’s civic and voter education team has conducted public outreaches at the Vreed-en-Hoop and Parika Stellings, and at the Mon Repos, Stabroek and Anna Regina markets respectively.

An information session was also held on the 3rd July, 2025 at the Cyril Potter College of
Education with Teacher Trainees.

Further, in the coming days, the team will ramp up their efforts through planned outreaches in Region Two (2) at the Supenaam Water Front, Suddie and Charity Markets, Mainstay/Whyaka Community and Bethany Mission. Teams will also be in Main Street, Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Port Mourant, Corriverton and Parika Markets.

This strategy forms part of GECOM’s mandate to ensure that all stakeholders receive accurate information
that will contribute to them making important decisions regarding their participation in the democratic process.

While these engagements are specifically designed to ensure that all stakeholders, particularly the electorate receives adequate information and are knowledgeable about the electoral processes, the importance of their participation, their rights and responsibilities, and election offences, among other information, it also lends itself to promoting an environment of transparency.

In view of the foregoing, GECOM is encouraging all stakeholders to interact with its voter education team, uplift pertinent information materials and also visit GECOM’s website at www.gecom.org.gy or follow us on Facebook page at Guyana Elections Commission, to keep abreast with updated and relevant information on the electoral process.

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