Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C., has accused opposition-nominated commissioners at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) of deliberately attempting to obstruct the electoral process ahead of the country’s upcoming General and Regional Elections.
During his weekly programme, ‘Issues In The News,’ Nandlall said Commissioners Charles Corbin, Vincent Alexander, and Desmond Trotman have been engaging in disruptive behaviour, including walking out of meetings to prevent a quorum from being formed – actions he claims are part of a wider strategy to delay the polls.
“So they continue to demonstrate their unwillingness to be democratic,” Nandlall stated. “The three commissioners have obviously hatched a strategy to obstruct because they don’t wish to go to the elections. That must have been the direction given to them by the political directorate.”
He alleged that while Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton publicly declares readiness for elections, his allies at GECOM are executing behind-the-scenes efforts to frustrate the process.
“On one hand, Norton is puffing his chest and saying he’s ready for elections. But on the other hand, he has his cohorts at GECOM trying to obstruct and delay,” the Attorney General said.
Nandlall drew parallels to the 2020 elections, which were marred by prolonged attempts to tamper with the results, and accused the same commissioners of playing similar roles back then.
Despite the alleged obstruction, Nandlall assured that the Constitution provides mechanisms to prevent any derailment of the process. He cited Article 226(5) of the Constitution, which allows GECOM meetings to be reconvened within two days if a quorum is unreasonably withheld. If the walkout continues, decisions made by the remaining members, including the Chairperson, will still be considered legally valid.
“You cannot hold the Elections Commission to ransom,” he declared. “The framers of our Constitution contemplated rogue elements like these three and provided an alternative mechanism. That is what will be activated.”
Nandlall reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring free and fair elections, saying, “This behaviour will not succeed. We will not allow it to succeed.”
He also blasted the opposition’s calls for electoral reform as hypocritical.
“They want to lecture about democracy, but at the least opportunity, they will grab the ballots and run with the boxes,” he said. “These electoral miscreants cannot be allowed to derail the democratic process again.”
