After almost a week of controversy over the symbol submitted by the We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) party, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) today approved a total of 22 political symbols, including the one submitted by WIN.

“There are 3 symbols that need some correction but all have been approved,” a GECOM official told News Source this afternoon.

The official said WIN’s symbol, which has been identified as a “leopard” is not among the three symbols submitted by political parties that require correction.

“The symbol was approved without discussion of whether it’s a Jaguar or Leopard,” the Elections Official said.

Last Friday, the Chairman of GECOM, retired Justice Claudette Singh, sided with the Government nominated Commissioners and voted against the jaguar being used as a symbol for WIN.

Government nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj had explained that after discussion on the concerns regarding the use of Indigenous Symbols by Political Parties, the Chair ruled that pursuant to Article 7 of the Constitution of Guyana, which outlines the duty of citizens to respect national symbols, the use of the Jaguar which is part of the Coat of Arms, is not acceptable.

The jaguar has been used in the past as a political symbol. The Rise Organise And Rebuild Guyana party used a roaring jaguar as its symbol without objection when it contested elections two decades ago.

But moments after the GECOM decision was handed down last week, the WIN party said the symbol it actually submitted to the Elections Commission was that of a Leopard, and not a Jaguar.

The party said it did not add a name to the symbol as none was required, and noted that a simple check of the symbol submitted would have proven that it is a leopard and not a jaguar.

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