Guyana: Walton-Desir Raises Concerns Over Mohamed’s GECOM Nominees

Amanza Walton-Desir has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest related to the nominees for election commissioners proposed by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed. In response, she has nominated Pastor Nigel London, citing his willingness to ask challenging questions as a valuable trait for the role.

Walton-Desir pointed out that Mohamed’s legal representatives, Siand Dhurjon, Roysdale Forde, and Damien Da Silva, involved in an extradition court hearing, could lead to questions regarding their nominations. While she respects their professional backgrounds, she emphasized the importance of avoiding situations that could create perceptions of conflict of interest during the nomination process.

In her justification for nominating London, Walton-Desir stated that meaningful electoral reform requires not only institutional changes but also genuine public engagement. She believes that London possesses the ability to simplify complex concepts and engage the Guyanese public in discussions about the electoral process. “Public understanding of and confidence in the electoral process cannot be built from the inside alone,” she remarked, highlighting London’s capacity to bridge this gap.

Walton-Desir also noted that public confidence in electoral institutions relies on both the integrity of the appointees and the transparency of the appointment process. She proposed a managed transition that would retain one current commissioner for a two-year period while allowing for the renewal of opposition representation at GECOM. Additionally, she suggested that existing opposition-nominated commissioners, Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin, and Desmond Trotman, be appointed as paid advisers to assist in transferring institutional knowledge to newly appointed commissioners.

She emphasized that the discussion should extend beyond merely deciding who should be appointed, but also consider how to improve the overall electoral process. In light of the ongoing discussions, Walton-Desir expressed her intention to participate in a consultative meeting scheduled by the Opposition Leader on June 23, 2026. This meeting comes amid the backdrop of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leader, Aubrey Norton, declining to meet with Mohamed due to the absence of vacancies at GECOM. Walton-Desir reiterated the need for meaningful attention to the structure, governance, and accountability mechanisms of GECOM as part of a serious electoral reform agenda.

Source: demerarawaves.com

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