THERE is a political/legal/constitutional controversy raging at the moment. The three PNC appointed GECOM commissioners will not resign–with Vincent Alexander leading the charge– even though there is a new opposition leader and a new opposition majority that want to replace these three commissioners.
If you go through the letter pages in the print and online publications, Vincent Alexander’s name can often be seen. He is one of the biggest critics of the Government of Guyana. But let’s examine the nature of this man and tell me if he would be a democratic office-holder if given huge governmental power. Alexander says that he is not a PNC GECOM commissioner. He is a constitutional GECOM commissioner who does not represent any political party.
When you digest the corrugated, convoluted and contaminated logic of Alexander, then Guyana should be happy that Alexander is not entrusted with the power to rule Guyana. What is Alexander saying? First, he is not a party representative at GECOM. Secondly, his appointment is for life. Thirdly, he will not resign even though there were general and regional elections and Guyana has a new opposition leader. Fourthly, he rejects the position that the new opposition leader from a different political party can appoint three GECOM commissioners because the previous opposition leader’s appointments are for life.
Where is the insanity in this thinking? First, if Alexander does not represent the PNC in GECOM, why did he not say that before during his 18 years at GECOM? He never said that before because the PNC would not have tolerated such behaviour because the constitution authorises the PPP and PNC to select three commissioners respectively to represent their interests in GECOM, with a chairperson who is to act as a buffer between the commissioners of the two political parties.
Can Alexander tell the nation then how do policies and positions of the PPP and PNC arise within GECOM and who present them at the table? Who in GECOM adumbrates the positions of the PNC and PPP when their positions are opposed to each other? The perfect example occurred in 2019. The ruling APNU+AFC wanted house-to-house registration before the national and regional elections. The PPP opposed that demand.
Which position did Alexander take? He voted for house-to-house registration and rejected the PPP’s stance. But since Alexander does not sit in GECOM as a party representative, how did he arrive at his vote to have house-to-house registration? Since he is a constitutional commissioner and not a party man, did he seek advice from the opposition PPP, civil society groups, UG academics, trade unions and the media on how he should vote? Who in the society or which organisation determines what GECOM commissioners say and how they vote? Alexander, in the ongoing raging controversy over his continued membership of GECOM, has an obligation to answer these questions.
The second insanity in Alexander’s stance is his relationship with the opposition leader and the major opposition party in parliament. Alexander and the other two commissioners appointed by the PNC refused to meet with Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed. Who then conveys to GECOM, when there are official meetings, what the major opposition party and the opposition leader want GECOM to do?
Obviously, it cannot be the three PPP commissioners. Why would they represent WIN in GECOM? And since the three PNC commissioners want nothing to do with WIN, then where does that leave the constitution? Is Alexander telling the Guyanese people that, contrary to what the constitution says, there cannot be any input into the working of GECOM from the current Opposition Leader because he and his two colleagues will not meet with the Opposition Leader?
The third insanity is tantamount to comicality. There are three commissioners at GECOM at the moment who never supported over the decades the positions of the PPP representatives and always voted against their proposals. These three commissioners are also not in favour of the continued role of the GECOM chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh. But will the new opposition leader have an input into these directions by Alexander and company?
Since the general and regional elections of 2025, Mr Alexander has often called for the removal of Justice Singh, including a letter in the newspapers as recent as last week, but Opposition Leader Mohamed, has never voiced any opinion on resignation or continuation. So Alexander, then and the two PNC commissioners speak for themselves only in GECOM. They certainly do not speak for the opposition leader, who has no say whatsoever.
If I have to choose between WIN and the PNC, I will close my eyes and pick the PNC. But the voters of Guyana chose the current opposition leader and the constitution speaks loudly. Mr Alexander and his two acolytes should be removed from GECOM immediately.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.