Guyana: FGM Leader Calls for Compromise Among Opposition on GECOM Seats

Amanza Walton, the leader of the Forward Guyana Movement, has called on opposition parties to resolve their dispute regarding their seats on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) through compromise rather than confrontation. Walton expressed concerns that ongoing infighting could demoralize supporters and potentially lead to legal battles.

During her appearance on Dr. David Hinds’ Politics 101 programme, Walton suggested that the three GECOM seats allocated to the opposition be shared among the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Working People’s Alliance (WIN), and Forward Guyana. She emphasized the need for the opposition to recognize the changing political landscape and to avoid treating the appointments as a winner-take-all scenario.

Walton stated, “What is within our power is how the opposition utilizes this moment for renewal.” She proposed that APNU retain one commissioner, WIN receive another, and Forward Guyana take the third seat, allowing the opposition to move forward with the business of the people.

She argued that since the opposition is constitutionally limited to three seats on GECOM, a negotiated arrangement would be the most practical solution, regardless of how opposition support is divided in Parliament. The discussion surrounding GECOM appointments has intensified amid questions regarding the authority of the new opposition leader to replace sitting commissioners following a change in leadership.

Vincent Alexander, a veteran opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, also appeared on Politics 101 and rejected the notion that commissioners could be automatically recalled due to a change in opposition leadership. He noted that the Constitution protects commissioners from political pressure to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

Despite this, Alexander acknowledged that GECOM’s work has often been hindered by partisan deadlock and called for broader reforms in the electoral management system. Walton also addressed her recent exclusion from a parliamentary committee, stating that the issue extends beyond personal grievances. She remarked, “This is not about Amanza being left off of a committee; it is an indication of the system failing to contemplate that a duly elected representative of the people should be able to sit on a committee.”

Walton criticized those who celebrated the exclusion of certain lawmakers, arguing that when elected representatives are restricted, the citizens who voted for them also lose influence. She pointed out that the confusion between parliament and personalities leads to a loss of power for the electorate.

Additionally, Walton raised concerns about changes to parliamentary oversight, specifically the decision for the Economic Services Committee to meet quarterly instead of monthly, suggesting that this reflects a government that is “afraid of scrutiny.” The Forward Guyana Movement remains committed to its ballot access case before the Caribbean Court of Justice, which was filed after the group was excluded from the election ballot last year. Walton emphasized the importance of this legal challenge in opening Guyana’s political system and breaking the cycle of traditional two-party politics.

Source: hgptv.com