President Dr Irfaan Ali says the Government is ready for Local Government Elections, but gave no indication on Friday of when Guyanese can expect to go to the polls.

The elections were last held on June 12, 2023, and were due again in 2026. However, GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh has not convened formal meetings since September 2025 amid disagreements over the three Opposition-nominated seats on the Commission.

Ali said there are outstanding issues that fall outside the Government's control and called on the parliamentary Opposition parties to settle their differences and communicate their position to GECOM.

“We are ready for local government election. I believe that local government elections are essential for our country. The renewal of leadership is key as part of our democratic frame,” he said.

He also suggested that stakeholders with concerns could turn to the courts to have disputed matters resolved.

The disagreement centres on Opposition representation on GECOM. We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) emerged as the largest Opposition party after the September 2025 General and Regional Elections, but the Commission's three Opposition-nominated seats remain occupied by commissioners appointed under the previous Opposition leadership.

Earlier this week, GECOM said the unresolved question of its composition requires urgent attention and that legislative action could help clarify the matter. Its Secretariat continues to handle routine operations, but decisions requiring the full Commission's approval remain constrained while it is unable to meet.

Asked whether he would support a constitutional amendment specifically addressing GECOM's composition, Ali pointed to the broader constitutional reform process, calling for it to move faster but leaving open whether a specific amendment would be pursued.

At the 2023 Local Government Elections, the governing PPP/C won 66 of the 80 Local Authority Areas, while APNU secured 14.

GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh