Aubrey Norton, Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), stated today that the opposition-nominated Commissioners on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) can only be removed through a change in legislation or if they voluntarily resign.
Speaking to reporters, Norton expressed disappointment regarding Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s recent comments calling for the resignation of the three Commissioners. He criticized Mohamed for not consulting with the broader opposition on a cohesive strategy and instead approaching GECOM directly to discuss the removal of these Commissioners.
“The reality is, it’s a permanent Commission, and unless there is a change of law, those Commissioners would remain there,” Norton explained. He emphasized that while the Commissioners are nominated by the Opposition Leader following consultations with other opposition parties, they represent the entire Opposition rather than a single party.
Norton suggested that instead of seeking to have the Commissioners dismissed, a more constructive approach would have been for Mohamed to engage in discussions with the Opposition to address the underlying issues. “I think it does not look well if you as an Opposition run to GECOM for GECOM to tell you, we can’t do anything. It shows that you are not doing your homework,” Norton remarked.
The situation is further complicated as both the Working People’s Alliance (WIN) and APNU may be preparing for a court showdown. WIN believes it should have the authority to nominate all Commissioners, while APNU asserts that both should have a voice in the matter.
Ganesh Mahipaul, APNU Member of Parliament, reiterated that once the Commissioners are appointed, they serve the people of Guyana rather than a specific political party. “After making the nominations, the political party no longer has that leverage or claim to remove them,” he noted.
Mahipaul also mentioned that two of the three Opposition Commissioners were nominated by the PNC, while the third was nominated by the APNU+AFC coalition to ensure diverse representation. He indicated a willingness to continue this arrangement if necessary.
