2025-12-12

Candidates who registered by December 15 must immediately secure written confirmation from the CEP specifying that registration is for the August 30, 2026 election to prevent future disputes over timeline validity or candidacy status. The February 7 CPT mandate expiration provides leverage to demand constitutional guarantees and CARICOM-brokered extension frameworks before committing campaign resources to an electoral process that may occur under illegitimate governmental authority. The registration silence from major opposition creates strategic opportunity for participating candidates to position themselves as legitimate democratic actors willing to engage in transition process while boycotting parties risk irrelevance. The December 22 candidate list publication will define the competitive landscape revealing whether elections will feature genuine multi-party competition or reduced fields that undermine result credibility. RECOMMENDED DECISION Form unified candidate coalition immediately to submit formal written demands to the CEP by December 13 requiring official written confirmation of August 30 timeline with legal citations and constitutional basis. Demand written guarantees that registration completions will be honored under final electoral calendar. Simultaneously engage CARICOM representatives to demand their mediation on February 7 constitutional crisis making clear that candidates will not legitimize elections held under unconstitutional authority. Use December 22 candidate list publication as decision point for continued participation, establishing public criteria for withdrawal if major parties have boycotted or if constitutional crisis remains unresolved. Develop campaign strategies optimized for eight month timeline with March 2026 launch recognizing that early spending without constitutional certainty creates resource waste risks. Diaspora