Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission retired Justice Claudette Singh, has rejected as ‘inaccurate’, the assertions that her recent meeting with diplomats was to discuss the conduct of elections in Guyana.

In a statement, the GECOM Chair said the meeting was held at the request of the five Heads of Mission themselves.

She noted that given the support provided by the Diplomatic Community in preparation for and during the conduct of the 2025 General and Regional Elections, the Chairman considered it both appropriate and an institutional obligation to respond positively to their request.

The Statement said Justice Singh needed no approval to be part of such a meeting.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Chairman does not require prior clearance or authorisation from individual Members of the Commission to engage with stakeholders, including Heads of Diplomatic Missions, in the discharge of her responsibilities as Chairman,” GECOM said.

GECOM said the recent engagement was neither unprecedented nor unusual explaining that during the preparations for the 2025 General and Regional Elections, the Chairman participated in similar engagements with Heads of Missions without the involvement of Commissioners.

GECOM said it is also important to distinguish between engagements involving matters of policy, which properly require deliberation and decisions of the Commission, and engagements concerning operational matters relating to the administration and conduct of elections.

GECOM’s response come after GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander raised concerns over the meeting with Chairman and the diplomats last week.

GECOM  has also rejected assertions that the Commission is non-functional because it did not convene a meeting in well over a year.

Alexander described the Commission as being “comatose” and suggested that the Organisation has effectively ceased to function.

But GECOM has noted while the Commission has not convened a meeting since September 2025, this must not be confused with the functioning of the Guyana Elections Commission as an institution.

“The Secretariat has remained operational throughout this period and continues to discharge the statutory responsibilities entrusted to GECOM under the Constitution and applicable electoral legislation. These responsibilities include the provision of registration services, the maintenance of the relevant registration records, and the execution of other authorised operational and administrative functions. Additionally, the Organisation has continued to focus on strengthening its internal administrative and operational procedures, improving institutional systems, and consolidating the gains made through the modernisation initiatives undertaken in recent years,”GECOM explained.

The Commission said although the absence of Commission meetings has undoubtedly constrained the consideration and determination of matters requiring the Commission’s collective deliberation and approval, it is inaccurate to suggest that GECOM, as an institution, has ceased functioning.

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