In the wake of recent accusations seeking to undermine the Guyana Elections Commission for not being impartial, it is now necessary that these unfounded claims be put in their proper perspective and the organisation’s commitment to electoral integrity be restated.

The accusations made by R. Williams in two recent letters published in the Kaieteur News are not only unfounded but also injurious to the democratic process in Guyana.
Williams’ assertion that GECOM’s key management appointments result from collusion between government-nominated commissioners and the Chairperson is a dangerous misrepresentation of facts.

The reality is that GECOM’s hiring process is rigorous, transparent, and objective. Vacancies are publicly advertised, and all commissioners participate in shortlisting candidates based on predetermined criteria.
The final selection often involves breaking ties between different preferences, with the Chairperson making the ultimate decision based on merit and organisational needs, not political bias.

The claims range from outrageous allegations of a conflict of interest to allegations of attempted rigging of the forthcoming 2025 elections. These vitriolic accusations tend to lead to undermining confidence in the process of election and making less interest on civic matters among people.

An examination of GECOM shows this entity is composed of professional competent workers with very pleasing records. Trying to defame that only signifies disrespectful attempts on these individuals, a ploy aimed at tilling a psychological soil to further scatter confusion among electors.

The commission is committed to transparency and fairness in its operations. Justice Claudette Singh, the Chairman, has at numerous times reiterated that her decisions are impartial and in the best interest of the organisation.

The public needs to understand that GECOM operates independently, without any partisan influence, to ensure the integrity of Guyana’s democratic processes.
As the country gets ready for the 2025 elections, all stakeholders, including the media and the public, have to be vigilant against misinformation campaigns. GECOM’s mandate is quite specific: that of providing free, fair, transparent, and credible elections.

It is only by focusing on facts and not on unfounded accusations that we will collectively strengthen our democracy and ensure that every Guyanese voice is heard and respected at the ballot box.
Hence, what should be put across is that while healthy scrutiny of the electoral processes is welcomed, baseless allegations that go to the heart of undermining the system must be strongly rejected.