The Alliance For Change (AFC) has expressed concern over the Guyana Elections Commission relying on the Attorney General for legal advice on matters related to the upcoming elections. The AFC has reminded GECOM that the Attorney General is also a political candidate, and turning to him for legal advice to guide the Commission’s work would amount to a conflict of interest.

In a letter to the Chairman of the Elections Commission, AFC leader Nigel Hughes said since GECOM did not renew the contract for its last legal adviser, there has been no move to appoint an independent legal counsel to advise the Commission.

Hughes said his party is disturbed by indications that the Attorney General is now expected to advise GECOM on legal matters concerning the conduct of the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

He said with a date already announced for the elections, GECOM must ensure and demonstrate that the process is free from any interference and reach the highest standards of transparency, impartiality and public confidence.

“Against this backdrop, the insertion of the Attorney General—whose partisan affiliations and public political commentary are well documented—into the advisory framework of GECOM raises serious issues of conflict of interest. The role of legal adviser to GECOM requires not only legal competence but unimpeachable neutrality. It cannot be reconciled with a concurrent role as the chief legal officer of the Executive,” Mr. Hughes stated.

He said relying on the Attorney General for legal advice undermines the Constitutional mandate of GECOM as an independent institution.

“We therefore urge the Commission to immediately reconsider this development and appoint a legal adviser whose independence is beyond question. That individual must be professionally qualified, none partisan, and committed to upholding the principles of fairness and transparency upon which our democratic processes depends, “Mr. Hughes said.

The AFC leader said the integrity of the Elections and the Electoral system must not be compromised and it is in GECOM’s interest and the interest of the nation that matter be urgently addressed.

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