THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has announced that members of the Joint Services will be voting on June 2, 2023, as part of the Local Government Elections (LGEs).

According to a GECOM advertisement, persons would have from 6:00 hours to 18:00 hours to cast their votes.
In February, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall wrote to GECOM Chairperson Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, appointing June 12, 2023 as the date for conduct of the polls.

The date was chosen based on the work plan that was submitted by GECOM to the minister.
Guyanese have been anticipating the hosting of LGEs for some time now. It is at the LGEs that Guyanese are given the opportunity to vote for the councillors that will constitute their Local Authority Areas (LAAs). Guyana has 70 NDCs and 10 municipalities, inclusive of Georgetown.

LGEs were legally due in 2021, and the funds were budgeted to facilitate this; however, several issues facing GECOM at the time prevented the holding of the elections, including the non-appointment of a Chief Election Officer (CEO).
The LGEs could not be held in the absence of a CEO, a position which was later filled by Vishnu Persaud in December 2021.

With the appointment of a CEO, preparation for the conduct of LGEs had commenced in 2022, and last October, the GECOM Chair wrote Minister Dharamlall, naming March 13 as the earliest date for the holding of LGEs. The minister subsequently appointed this date for LGEs, with Nomination Day set for December 12, 2022.
This decision was, however, postponed after GECOM ratified a proposal submitted by Persaud for the hosting of another round of “claims and objections” for a new register of voters to be produced.

As part of the government’s commitment, some $2.9 billion has been allocated to GECOM for preparatory works to ensure the successful planning and execution of the elections.
The local government system is an essential part of the country’s governance framework. The election is contested by political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who are desirous of winning seats on the councils of the NDC and municipalities.