APNU, WIN to appoint 6-member team to set guidelines for future engagements

– says no final decisions were taken on substantive matters

Nearly one week after their meeting, the two main parliamentary opposition parties – the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) – finally issued a joint statement on Saturday, reiterating that no final decisions were made and that the two sides are considering whether to appoint representatives to guide future engagements. Held at the Brandsville Hotel in Georgetown on Monday, the meeting included representatives of WIN, led by United States (US)-sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, and members of APNU, led by Chairman Aubrey Norton.
According to Saturday’s missive, the meeting was cordial and provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on developing general and specific guidelines to govern the engagement between the parties.
“The parties committed that, in the case of WIN, they will hold consultations with their leadership/membership before they decide whether they would agree to name a three-member team to work along with a three-member team from APNU to develop the general and specific guidelines to govern their engagement with APNU and in APNU’s case, it will consult with other parties in its coalition to select a three-member team,” the joint statement detailed.
WIN, the main parliamentary opposition party, had invited the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led APNU to the meeting to discuss nominees for the Local Government Commission, the status of the three opposition-nominated commissioners at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), 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 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). However, the meeting ended with no agreement on these important matters – something which was confirmed in Saturday’s statement. “No final decisions were taken on the substantive matters discussed at the meeting,” it was noted. Following the less-than-one-hour-long closed -door meeting, both Mohamed and Norton provided little detail concerning the discussions, telling reporters that a joint statement would be issued. That missive eventually came five days later, rehashing the opposition parties’ failure to decide on the key issues, including the GECOM commissioners.

GECOM Commissioners
Despite 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 at the elections body.
However, GECOM has since explained that it cannot “properly intervene” in the matter, adding that the nomination and appointment of commissioners are governed by Article 161(3)(b) of the Constitution. 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 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. Nevertheless, this impasse is expected to be addressed by the ongoing constitutional reform process launched by the Government. Among other things, the Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) 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 in 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
When it comes to the Local Government Commission, the Opposition Leader hosted consultations with the other parliamentary opposition parties before submitting recommendations to the Government, 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 that excluded representatives of APNU. APNU nominees Joan Romascindo and Ronald Daniels were not selected.

RDC
Meanwhile, Region 10 remains the only administrative region operating without an elected regional chairman and Vice Chairman following last year’s elections.
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. Following Monday’s failed dialogue, no date has been fixed for follow-up talks between WIN and APNU. Joining the Opposition Leader during the meeting were Opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Odessa Primus, Natasha Singh, Vishnu Panday, and Duarte Hetsberger. APNU’s delegation included Ganesh Mahipaul, Dexter Todd, Coretta McDonald, David Hinds, General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin, Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels, and Regional Councillor Shanika Haynes.