-says opposition commissioners asked ‘plethora of questions’ 

OUTLINING all the necessary tasks for the September 1 General and Regional Elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Thursday approved its workplan.

This was confirmed by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)-nominated GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj during an invited comment, following a meeting with officials from the electoral body and the nominated commissioners from both sides.

“It was well interrogated by the commissioners from the other side as well. They asked a plethora of questions and so and eventually it was approved,” Gunraj told the Guyana Chronicle.

He explained that the workplan sets out a list of tasks which has to be executed between now and elections, including the holding of elections.

Some of these tasks he said, would be related to  preparing of ballot papers, publishing notices, etc.

Each of these tasks he explained, has a time ascribed to it.

On Tuesday, a meeting was held with commissioners following President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s announcement that General and Regional Elections will be held on September 1, 2025.

Gunraj had told members of the press that Tuesday’s meeting was the first since that announcement, and that they had all received a work plan from the Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud earlier in the day and were set to discuss same.

As Tuesday’s meeting got underway, the opposition-nominated commissioners, Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin, and Desmond Trotman, staged a walkout.

Gunraj noted that while he cannot predict that there will be such a reccurrence from those commissioners, his team remains committed to ensuring that the deliverables are met in time for the polls.

“We are committed to ensuring that the deliverables for holding the elections are met and that whatever presence etc that is necessary to ensure that is done and whatever work that is necessary to ensure that is done, will be done.”

He added: “Importantly and thankfully, they are safeguards in the law that cater for that kind of behaviour from them.”