Ahead of 2025 polls: $193M budgeted to train almost 20,000 Election Day staff; $7.3B given to GECOM

…Govt also quizzed on salaries & benefits of top officials

The Government has allocated $193 million to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for training nearly 20,000 election day staff, while $427.5 million has been set aside for civic and voter education in preparation for the 2025 General and Regional Elections.
Overall, GECOM was allocated a sum of $7.3 billion in the 2025 Budget. During the consideration of the budget estimates on Monday at the National Assembly, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Texeira gave a breakdown of what this money will be used for.
For example, $193 million has been allocated for training the 19,000 temporary election day staff who will be deployed nationwide. Additionally, $122 million has been set aside to rent privately owned buildings as polling stations when public facilities are unavailable.

“On the question to do with public education, if we look at the areas of others goods and services purchased, you will find $427 million for the production of infomercials for radio and television, $91.5 million for publication of notices in local newspapers; $63 million for advertisements for election workers; $3 million, printing of manuals; $95 million, procurement of T-shirts for election day staff; $135 million, printing and distribution of flyers and brochures; $15 million, engagement with civil organisations, $25 million. And you come up with your $427.5 million,” Texeira explained.

Employment cost
Questions were also raised by opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul about employment costs for GECOM staff, in particular the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Deputy CEO and Chairperson of GECOM. In light of the 10 per cent retroactive salary increase that was granted for public servants, the Minister explained that GECOM staff, from the temporary staff hired this year to the permanent staff, also benefitted from this.
“Just to inform my friend, Mr Mahipaul, that the statutory wages and salaries for the commissioners have also increased by 10 per cent, so you will note that between the revised 2024 and the statutory wages and salaries, they have gone up from $72 million to $226 million. This is the annual salary for Chairman, Commissioners, stipends for scrutineers that are doing the continuous registration,” the Minister said.

Teixeira noted that the wages and salaries for Returning Officers total $423.9 million, while for the Assistant Returning Officers the total is $320.1 million. The salaries for the Managers come up to $794.5 million, for Civic and Voter education assistants, $320.1 million; for Security Officers, $430.5 million and for Drivers, $226.7 million.
“In relation to the CEO…$1.9 million…NIS $23 million. Entertainment allowance $200,000, housing allowance $350,000, security allowance $220,000 and uniform allowance. And then gratuity is $5.2 million. Vacation allowance is $1.9 million. So, the monthly total is $3.3 million. And the grand total for the 12 months is $44.7 million,” Texeira said.
The Deputy CEO receives a monthly salary of $1.2 million, along with additional benefits, including a $75,000 entertainment allowance, $125,000 for housing, $140,000 for security, and $3 million in gratuity.
Additionally, the Deputy CEO is entitled to a $1.1 million vacation allowance, bringing total monthly payments to $1.3 million and annual earnings to $20 million. Meanwhile, Texeira disclosed that the Chairperson’s basic salary is $2.7 million per month, with a total annual compensation of $33.4 million.
Last year, GECOM had received a budgetary allocation of $3.5 billion. The increase in their allocation reflects the fact that 2025 General and Regional elections are expected in November of this year, though an official date has not been set.
In an interview with this publication last month, the CEO of the elections body, Vishnu Persaud, had confirmed that GECOM while is unable to initiate its official preparations for the elections until the President announces the official date for the hosting of the General and Regional Elections, the agency has started preliminary preparations.