By: Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News
Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Amanza Walton-Desir, is renewing calls for a complete overhaul of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), describing the current structure as an “aberration” compared to electoral management systems elsewhere in the world.
Speaking on the “Sources” podcast, Walton-Desir, whose party secured one seat in the 13th Parliament, emphasized that GECOM must transition from a politically divided entity to a technical, competence-driven body staffed by qualified professionals.
“The Guyana Elections Commission needs to become a technical body staffed by competent technical persons,” she asserted.
The FGM leader said the existing GECOM configuration, which was meant to be a temporary arrangement, has now been in place for almost 30 years — a situation she described as outdated and counterproductive to electoral integrity.
“There is need for the entire configuration and construct of GECOM to change. This arrangement was intended to be temporary, and yet it remains nearly three decades later,” Walton-Desir noted.
She also raised concerns about voter registration irregularities, including unauthorized changes to electors’ information without their knowledge. According to Walton-Desir, despite the matter being reported to the Guyana Police Force, there has been no meaningful follow-up or accountability from GECOM.
“Absolutely no follow-up, absolutely no update, and GECOM has done nothing to convince us that this is being earnestly pursued,” she lamented.
Walton-Desir is urging all political stakeholders and civil society groups to unite in pushing for comprehensive electoral reform, warning that failure to do so will further erode public confidence in Guyana’s democratic processes.
