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OAS Observation Mission Highlights Efforts for Inclusiveness and Transparency in Guyana’s Elections

The Chief of the Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Guyana, Professor Gordon Shirley, highlighted today to the Permanent Council “the significant efforts made by the Guyanese Electoral Commission (GECOM) to improve procedures and execute an overall inclusive and clean electoral process,” and commended “the high level of training and dedication exhibited by GECOM staff in the polling centers.”

The report of the Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) that accompanied the general and regional elections held on November 28, 2011, underscores as a positive aspect of the campaign period the GECOM’s efforts to adopt Codes of Conduct for both political parties and media and the reopening of the GECOM’s Media Monitoring Unit. In terms of campaign financing, the report noted the positive steps toward creating accountability for party spending; however it also recognizes the lack of regulation for campaign contributions. It also highlights and the access to media and campaign financing. The report states that the campaign “was characterized by a perception of limited differentiation between the state and the governing party.”

The OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, thanked the “very complete report” presented and reiterated the idea to implement a system to follow up on the implementation of the recommendations presented by the Electoral observation missions. The leader of the OAS said that the Organization has been invited to observe all the elections being held in the Caribbean. “This is a sign of vibrant democracy in the Caribbean, and demonstrations of how you take democracy very seriously. The EOM’s reports are, very much, a sign of trust in our organization, which we deeply appreciate.”

In the review of the Election Day itself, Professor Shirley pointed out the quality of measures to guarantee gender participation, mentioning that Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean with a gender quota for female candidacies in effect. Nevertheless he noted that “only one of the four major political parties fielded a woman at the top of its ticket,” and noted the lack of female participation at the Commissioner level.

Professor Shirley affirmed that “throughout the day, the OAS observers did not witness any incidents of voter intimidation, interruptions of the voting process, or restrictions of the right to a secret vote. Poll workers carried out the counting of the ballots according to legal procedures, and agents from both governing and opposition parties were present during the counting at all observed stations.” The report also explained that the tabulation and processing of results was marked by some incidents that demonstrated the lack of application of uniform procedures.

The Mission, composed of 25 observers, also reported the discontent that prevailed two weeks after the electoral results. “The mission considers it essential that significant actions are carried out by GECOM prior to future elections to instill greater credibility of its actions,” says the report.

In presenting the recommendations, Professor Shirley referred to the need to employ mechanisms to guarantee more equitable access to media and political financing; the inclusion of a requirement for disclosure of campaign expenditures prior to the elections; a review of options for proportional party access to advertising time; and the incorporation of technical criteria and to establish mechanisms that guarantee GECOM’s plurality.

The chief of Mission also recommended the determination and adherence “to timely and standardized procedures for the electoral process,” and invited the GECOM to address the challenges observed in the tabulation procedures and to work diligently to develop additional transparency mechanisms.

The Permanent Representative of Guyana to the OAS, Ambassador Bayney Karran, thanked the Mission’s work and explained that electoral politics in his country “have a regrettable past, a challenging present and a colorful future.”

The Guyanese diplomat affirmed that “each successive election has brought its own share of anxieties and difficulties to the society, at the same time; however, each election has also brought forth renewed hopes and promises on the economic, social and political development of the republic to build on the substantial progress which has been achieved in recent years,” and continued by saying that “along the way, significant advances have been made in the country’s capacity to deliver well-organized elections in keeping with international standards, although there will always be room for improvement in any system.” He affirmed and recognized that based on the report “the recent elections were a significant success, and a reaffirmation of the Guyanese people of the principles Inter-American Democratic Charter.”

The full report of the EOM is available here.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-055/12