GECOM Election Declaration Delayed as Opposition Commissioners Skip Meeting
GECOM's official election results declaration faces delay as opposition commissioners absent themselves from crucial meeting. Constitutional provisions allow for resolution within 24 hours.
GECOM headquarters in Georgetown as commission prepares for crucial election results declaration
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) faced another setback Friday night in declaring the official results of the general and regional elections after opposition-aligned commissioners failed to attend the scheduled meeting. This latest development comes amid ongoing vote counting efforts that have characterized these crucial elections.
Constitutional Provisions and Next Steps
According to PPP/C-aligned commissioner Sase Gunraj, the Constitution provides a clear pathway forward despite this delay. A new meeting can be convened 24 hours later, requiring only four commissioners including the Chairman to make valid decisions. This provision ensures that electoral integrity is maintained while preventing procedural deadlocks.
Recent Recount Results
Prior to this development, GECOM had completed a recount requested by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) covering:
- 391 boxes from East Coast Demerara
- 77 boxes from Region Five
The recount results showed minimal changes, with parties seeing variations of only three to four votes, demonstrating the accuracy of the initial count. This thorough verification process aligns with calls for electoral transparency from various stakeholders.
Unofficial Results and Next Steps
Based on declarations from all 10 districts, President Irfaan Ali and the People's Progressive Party Civic lead with approximately 55 percent of the popular vote. Once the official declaration is made, the Chancellor of the Judiciary will be notified for the President's swearing-in ceremony.
Adrian Singh
Business reporter focused on economic freedom, foreign investment, and institutional transparency.