In a significant governmental development, Guyana has named Aneal Giddings, former Deputy Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), as the nation’s first Data Protection Commissioner. Prime Minister Mark Phillips formally announced the appointment on Friday evening, confirming to Demerara Waves Online News that Giddings assumed the pivotal role on January 2, 2026.
Giddings, an established Information Technology specialist, resigned from his electoral position in December 2025 to assume this groundbreaking role under the recently enacted Data Protection Act. The appointment signals Guyana’s commitment to implementing robust data governance frameworks as the country advances its digital transformation initiatives.
Prime Minister Phillips emphasized the critical nature of this appointment, particularly in relation to the ongoing collection of personal information for electronic identification cards. “We have established the independent oversight necessary to ensure that every byte of data collected meets the highest international standards of privacy and security,” Phillips declared during a National Assembly address.
The Prime Minister further revealed that the government would shortly issue an order to fully activate the 2023 Data Protection Act, moving beyond the current voluntary registration phase for electronic identification. While acknowledging the present pilot program remains optional, Phillips indicated that registration would eventually become compulsory, though the existing legislation does not specify penalties for non-compliance.
Addressing privacy concerns, Phillips clarified that the data being collected already exists across multiple government registries including the Guyana Revenue Authority, General Register’s Office, and the Immigration Department. He characterized the new system as “simply a consolidation of existing legal records into a more secure format,” emphasizing the enhanced protection mechanisms now under Giddings’ supervision.