As the government continues to face immense pressure to call local government polls, the three government-nominated members of the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) yesterday urged caution about the readiness of the agency to proceed.
In a joint statement, Mohamood Shaw, Dr Keshav Mangal and Athmaram Mangar registered their concern about calls for the elections and declarations that Gecom is ready, while highlighting a series of operational issues to be addressed.
“We urge that these calls and declarations be treated with extreme caution,” they declared, while adding that they would continue to work with the Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally and the opposition-nominated commissioners and the Gecom Secretariat to address issues of concern.
The statement signals a divide among the commissioners about the statutory body’s readiness, in light of repeated declarations by Surujbally that Gecom would be prepared to hold the elections once the government identifies a date for the polls. Surujbally has said Gecom has a draft work plan for the conduct of local