APNU-WIN meeting yields no agreement on key opposition issues

Formal talks between opposition parties – the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) – ended on Monday without agreement on key issues such as opposition representation of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Local Government Commission (LGC).

The meeting was held at the Brandsville Hotel in Georgetown and included representatives of WIN, led by United States (US)-sanctioned and indicted Oppositon Leader Azruddin Mohamed and members of APNU, led by chairman, Aubrey Norton.

WIN, the main parliamentary opposition party, had invited APNU to the meeting to discuss nominees for the LGC, the status of the three opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners, the scrutineers involved in the registration process at GECOM and the election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

However, the meeting ended with no agreement on these important matters. Both Mohamed and Norton provided little details concerning the discussions, telling reporters following the more than one-hour long meeting that a joint statement will be issued. The joint statement was not issued up to press time on Monday.

GECOM Commissioners

Notwithstanding the APNU losing its position as the main parliamentary opposition in the 2025 elections, the party has shut down any considerations of removing any of the current APNU–appointed commissioners at GECOM to make way for new Commissioners to be appointed by the new main parliamentary opposition WIN. Upon the receipt of legal advice, US-indicted Mohamed had written President Dr Irfaan Ali on June 30, seeking the appointment of his three nominees as GECOM Commissioners. Mohamed nominated lawyers Roysdale Forde, Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva to replace APNU-backed GECOM commissioners Desmond Trotman, Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin. GECOM has since explained that “it has no locus standi in relation to the nomination by the Leader of the Opposition of persons for appointment as Members of the Guyana Elections Commission.” GECOM explained that the nomination and appointment of commissioners are matters governed by Article 161(3)(b) of the Constitution. “GECOM is not the authority vested with responsibility for determining the validity of such nominations or appointments. Accordingly, the Commission cannot properly intervene in, adjudicate upon, or resolve any impasse concerning persons nominated by the Leader of the Opposition for appointment as Commissioners,” GECOM’’s statement further reads. GECOM’s seven-member commission comprises the Chairman, three Government appointed Commissioners and three opposition Commissioners. The appointments are governed by the Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2000. A new set of commissioners can be appointed when the Government changes.

However, many times the same Commissioners simply switch sides from being Opposition nominated to becoming a Government nominated. With no fixed terms being stipulated in the Constitution for their appointment, Commissioners usually serve until they resign or otherwise become unable to serve. Alexander has been one of the Commissioners since the early 2000s, outlasting Government changes across the 2011, 2015, and 2020 elections. Corbin was also appointed in the early 2000s. Trotman was appointed in 2017 to replace a commissioner who passed away that year. This impasse is expected to be addressed by the ongoing constitutional reform process launched by the Government. The Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) has already formally invited public written proposals for constitutional changes, with submissions open until December 31, 2026. Among other things, the Commission said it will consider proposals relating to electoral reform, including the composition of GECOM, the method of appointing its chairman and members and its jurisdiction over national registration and the electoral process.

GECOM scrutineers

Mohamed has also raised concerns over the absence of representatives from WIN or the other opposition party, the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), among the 69 opposition scrutineers being paid by GECOM. Mohamed complained that, despite WIN’s efforts to engage the other opposition party on appointing scrutineers representative of all parties, all of the scrutineers are APNU-backed.

According to GECOM, while the Leader of the Opposition submitted correspondence dated June 3, together with supporting documentation relating to the consultation undertaken and the proposed appointments, the CEO subsequently received correspondence from APNU formally objecting to the proposal.

LGC

Mohamed had hosted consultations with the other parliamentary opposition parties before submitting recommendations for the LGC, following a request from Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira. Mohamed then submitted the names of three persons to sit on the LGC. They are Leola Narine and Leslyn Lowe of his WIN party and Nicholas Chesney from FGM – a move which excluded representatives of APNU. APNU nominees Joan Romascindo and Ronald Daniels were not selected.

RDC

During the inaugural council meeting on October 10, 2025, WIN candidate Mark Goring and rival candidate Dominique Blair of APNU tied 9–9 after a single round of voting. The stalemate exists to date, prompting WIN to file legal actions against Regional Executive Officer (REO) and Clerk of Council, Dr Gregory Harris. Region Ten remains the only administrative region operating without an elected regional chairman and vice chairman following last year’s elections.

Next meeting

No date has been fixed for follow-up talks between WIN and APNU. At Monday’s dialogue, WIN’s delegation included the Opposition Leader, Opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley; Odessa Primus, Natasha Singh, Vishnu Panday and Duarte Hetsberger. APNU was represented by Norton along with Ganesh Mahipaul, Dexter Todd, Coretta McDonald, David Hinds, General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin, Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels and Regional Councillor Shanika Haynes.