Guyana: Walton-Desir Proposes GECOM Transition Plan, Calls For Electoral Reform, Nominates Nigel London

In an effort to address the political gridlock affecting the parliamentary opposition in Guyana, Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir, who leads the Forward Guyana Movement, has put forward a structured transition plan for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This proposal aims to replace opposition-nominated commissioners while introducing an alternative nominee.

Walton-Desir’s framework was outlined in a formal response to Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, who is currently reviewing the seven-member regulatory body. Instead of a complete overhaul or indefinite retention of current members, Walton-Desir suggested a compromise: keeping one opposition commissioner for a two-year transitional period to ensure operational stability. To maintain institutional memory, she proposed that outgoing commissioners Charles Corbin, Desmond Trotman, and Vincent Alexander be retained as paid technical advisers within the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.

Additionally, Walton-Desir nominated political commentator Nigel London as a new opposition-appointed commissioner. She emphasized London’s ability to engage the public on complex constitutional issues and to help restore confidence in the electoral process.

Walton-Desir also expressed concerns regarding three attorneys under consideration by the Opposition Leader—Roysdale Forde, Siand Dhurjon, and Damien Da Silva—who are part of Mohamed’s legal team in ongoing court cases. She highlighted the importance of a selection process that avoids any appearance of conflict of interest.

According to Walton-Desir, public trust in GECOM hinges on the integrity of its members and the transparency of the selection process. She argued that merely changing commissioners will not resolve the electoral challenges in Guyana and called for urgent reforms to GECOM’s governance structure and accountability mechanisms.

Walton-Desir urged political stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue rather than limiting the debate to a choice between total retention or complete replacement of commissioners. She confirmed her participation in a consultative assembly convened by the Opposition Leader on June 23, 2026, to further discuss these issues.

Source: hgptv.com