The Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) met today to discuss an election work plan that was submitted to the seven-member Commission more than 18 hours after President Irfaan Ali announced that General and Regional Elections would be held on September 1.

Prior to Sunday, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud had advised the Commission that GECOM would not be in a position to hold Elections before September 22, 2025, but by Monday afternoon, the Commissioners received a “revised” election work plan, which reflected the date announced by the President.

The workplan reduced the previously estimated timeframe by 21 days. 

Just before entering this afternoon’s meeting, Government nominated Election Commissioner Sase Gunraj said he received the revised work plan this morning.

He said it is the Commission’s intention to have the revised workplan approved.

“The plan is, this afternoon of course, is to discuss that with a view of approving and executing that in keeping with the date set by the president,” Gunraj told reporters.

The opposition aligned commissioners, this morning, said GECOM was still in the process of discussing the September 22 workplan, when the announcement was made by the President based on the “unilateral” advice of the Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh.

According to the opposition nominated commissioners, the expedited workplan would severely affect well established statutory timelines but Gunraj said the Constitution allows for election to be held within 90 days.

“I can’t speak for the chairman and what she would have said, and what formed the basis of her advice but the Constitution, basically contemplates elections to be held in three months or 90 days. And, the timeframe that has been set by the president, that is to say the 1^st September is in excess of those 90 days. And as a consequence, I believe that GECOM will and must be ready to hold elections on that date set by the President,” Gunraj said.

He said it is the President’s prerogative to set a date for elections in Guyana. 

Unlike the opposition aligned commissioners, Gunraj said he has no concerns with regards to the new timelines set and GECOM’s ability to meet them.

“Ninety days I believe is more than adequate to comply with all of the timelines, with all of the statutory provisions, and logistically to execute the election on the date set,” he said.

Gunraj said elections in Guyana are constitutionally due this year, and GECOM has long been in preparatory mode. He said it is now for GECOM to execute.

With regards to the state of the Voters’ List, in which the opposition has repeatedly described as “bloated,” Gunraj assured that there are legal systems in place for cleansing of the list.

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