Three opposition-aligned commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are questioning the decision to name September 1, 2025, as the date for the country’s general and regional elections—calling it a move apparently based on unilateral advice from GECOM Chairperson Claudette Singh, and not in line with the agency’s previously discussed timeline.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Commissioner Vincent Alexander said the date, announced by President Irfaan Ali during his Independence Day address on Sunday night, came as a surprise to the opposition commissioners.
“While recognizing that it’s the President’s prerogative to determine the election date, it is crass for him to have done so based on the purported Chairman’s guidance, which clearly misrepresented the CEO’s (Chief Elections Officer) projected date of September 22 and the fact that even the proposed date was still under consideration and not yet agreed,” Alexander said.
A senior GECOM official declined to comment on the issue, saying the seven-member commission has not yet deliberated on it.
Alexander, along with fellow opposition-appointed commissioners Desmond Trotman and Charles Corbin, said they were unaware of any updated work plan until after the President’s announcement. According to Alexander, a new plan to facilitate the September 1 date was only circulated by GECOM’s administration on Monday, May 26, at 4:30 p.m.
Corbin argued that there is still room for the commission to review the revised timeline and urged the Chairperson to re-engage the President. He warned that proceeding under the current schedule risks compromising the integrity of the electoral process.
“With those reduced time frames, because we will be limiting their ability to be able to respond…We will be short-changing the public which reduces the impact and efficiency and our delivery of an election which could be classified as free and fair,” Corbin said.
Alexander added that a cursory review of the new work plan revealed that several key timelines had been shortened by as much as 21 days. Notably, the claims and objections period has reportedly been cut from 21 days to just three.
Other impacted processes include the submission of candidates’ lists, appeals regarding nominated candidates, and the deletion of deceased voters from the roll—actions that rely on police and medical officer reports in accordance with the Representation of the People Act.
Corbin further noted that the revised plan would reduce the amount of time political parties have to verify voter eligibility—from the standard 30 days to a mere four. This, he said, disproportionately affects smaller parties and undermines the fairness of the elections.
“If not changed,” Corbin said, “it would not ensure there is a level playing field.”
 say the September 1 election date is premature.){kind=link}