Shuman backs GECOM’s non-renewal of legal officer’s contract

Apr 17, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

The Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) issues the following statement on recent judicial developments, the conduct of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and the critical need to uphold democratic values ahead of the 2025 General and Regional Elections:

The Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) welcomes the recent ruling by Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, which unequivocally affirms that there is no statutory or constitutional requirement for Guyanese citizens to reside at a fixed address to be eligible for registration or to vote. This landmark decision protects the fundamental rights of all Guyanese, whether residing at home or abroad, to fully participate in the democratic process and rejects the APNU/AFC’s backdoor attempt at house-to-house registration – a matter that has been extensively and conclusively adjudicated.

The ruling is a sound rejection of efforts by the APNU+AFC coalition to disenfranchise voters and restrict access to the electoral roll under the guise of reform. It sends a clear message that voter suppression tactics will find no support in law, and that Guyana remains committed to an inclusive democracy.

The LJP further expresses its full confidence in the leadership of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), especially Chairperson Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. Justice Singh has served this nation with integrity, impartiality, and unshakable commitment to the rule of law. Her stewardship of GECOM during and after the turbulent 2020 elections was instrumental in protecting the sanctity of the ballot and preventing the derailment of Guyana’s democratic order.

Despite baseless attacks and personal vilification, Justice Singh has stood firmly for fairness and transparency. The Commission’s decision to part ways with its legal officer, Mr. Kurt Da Silva, following confirmed misrepresentation of GECOM’s position in a court of law, is further evidence of its resolve to uphold internal accountability and professional ethics.

Since 2020, GECOM has taken decisive steps to strengthen its operations and improve public trust, improved training of polling staff, upgraded IT systems, and proactive voter education campaigns. These reforms must be supported, not sabotaged.

Regrettably, the Liberty and Justice Party notes with increasing alarm the continued pattern of destabilising behaviour by the APNU+AFC coalition. Their actions in the lead-up to, and aftermath of, the March 2020 elections, including the brazen falsification of tabulated results, manipulation of the Region Four vote, defiance of local and international observer missions, and frivolous, embarrassing abuse of the judicial system, constituted an outright assault on Guyana’s democracy. The records show that all the observer teams, including those from the Organisation of American States (OAS), CARICOM, the Commonwealth, and the European Union, documented and denounced these efforts. Had it not been for the courage of the judiciary, civil society, and committed public servants, Guyana may have faced an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

Rather than accept the lessons of 2020, the PNC-led coalition continues to pursue a scorched-earth political strategy rooted in ethnic polarisation, judicial obstruction, and institutional sabotage. Their frivolous lawsuits, misinformation campaigns, and deliberate attempts to cast doubt on the credibility of GECOM are reckless and dangerous.

The time has come for belligerent opposition forces to abandon the politics of deception, abandon the narrative of perpetual grievance, abandon the unabated assault on our country’s democratic architecture, and transition into the fold of collective responsibility and respect for the Constitution and the will of the people. All patriotic Guyanese must coalesce to force an end to this kind of destructive politics. We must denounce, reject and vanquish these persistent divisive and anti-democratic tactics by the PNC-led coalition, and create the breathing room for our beloved country to move forward.

The Liberty and Justice Party urges all political forces to act with restraint, responsibility, and respect for the institutions that safeguard our Republic. We call on civil society, the media, and the electorate to remain vigilant, informed, and engaged with the correct course of democracy and history as we prepare for the 2025 elections.

Let there be no doubt: GECOM is constitutionally mandated and institutionally capable of delivering credible elections. Attempts to destabilise the Commission or delegitimise its leadership must be resisted by all right-thinking Guyanese.

Our democracy, hard-fought and hard-won, cannot and must not be the casualty of reckless anti-nationalist and selfish partisan ambition. The future of Guyana depends on our collective ability to uphold the rule of law, defend constitutional order, and protect the right of every citizen to cast their vote freely and fairly, as we so powerfully demonstrated in 2020.

The Liberty and Justice Party stands firmly in that defence.

Regards,

Lenox R. O. Shuman, Mr.

Chairman – Liberty and Justice Party

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