Madam Chair
Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza
Distinguished Permanent Representatives and Permanent Observers
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Yesterday, I completed a visit to Guyana from April 6 to 11 to prepare for the long-term observation mission for the electoral process in Guyana. I was accompanied on this three-person mission by representatives from the Office of the Assistant Secretary General and the Department for the Promotion of Democracy of the Sub-secretariat for Political Affairs.

The team met with political parties, members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and its technical secretariat as well as civil society, including representatives of trade unions, the private sector and the Elections Assistance Bureau, a nongovernmental organization that will field national observers. The mission also met with government officials, the international donor community, CARICOM officials and the media. On Monday of this week, the mission met with His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Republic of Guyana and separately with the Foreign Minister, the Honorable Rudy Insanally, as well as with CARICOM Secretary General, Mr. Edwin Carrington.

During this visit, the mission signed the Agreements of Privileges and Immunities with the Government of Guyana and an Agreement on the Electoral Observation Process with the Guyana Elections Commission, respectively.

As of today, a date for the elections has yet to be set. As previously reported to the Permanent Council, the constitutionally due date for election in Guyana is August 4. The Constitution further stipulates that parliament must be dissolved three months prior to the date of elections. Therefore, on May 4, in approximately three weeks, Parliament is scheduled to be dissolved. The Elections Commission Chairman informed me that he will notify the President as well as the Guyanese people in an address to the nation tomorrow, April 13, that the August 4 deadline will not be met due to a number of outstanding technical issues; chief among them is the finalization of the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

The Guyana Elections Commission will use as a starting point the voters list utilized for the General Elections in 2001. While the list is imperfect, a number of steps are being taken to ensure that eligible voters are guaranteed their franchise including a claims-and-objections period and the cross checking of fingerprints to identify possible duplicates. The Elections Office of Jamaica is providing assistance for the fingerprint exercise. It is incumbent upon the Elections Commission to communicate these steps and their results to the general public and political parties in a clear and timely manner.

In my view, one of the principal challenges to having elections in Guyana is the lack of trust among the political parties and the absence of consensus building mechanisms. In addition, public confidence in the electoral authorities is low. In the current context, the Electoral Commission and its Chairman must make every effort to regain public confidence through strong leadership, effective and timely decision making, and efficient and regular communication on the state of preparedness and on the way forward regarding outstanding issues.

In the coming weeks, three important decisions have to be made:

1. the dissolution of Parliament or the extension thereof. This will require dialogue in Parliament between the ruling PPP/Civic and the collective opposition.

2. the establishment of a firm date for the holding of General and Regional elections in Guyana. While this decision has many technical elements, it ultimately depends on decisions that reflect political considerations.

3. the formula for governance after August 4, including legal mandates and restraining elements.

These critical decisions will necessitate constructive dialogue, induce intensive debate and influence developments in the country in the coming weeks and months.

In my last report to the Council, I noted that many individuals, from all segments of society, expressed concern about the security situation in Guyana. That level of concern continues to be apparent. Individuals involved in the electoral process informed the mission of threats that have been made against their lives. While seemingly not directly related to the electoral process or the political uncertainty, a prominent businessman was murdered on Thursday of last week. As is the case throughout the Caribbean, increasing crime and violence have made for an anxious citizenry.

In the current electoral environment, the appropriate officials must assure the public that they can and will provide adequate security and law enforcement measures to protect citizens, maintain stability and facilitate the electoral process by allowing candidates to campaign and voters to cast their ballots on election day in a non-threatening atmosphere. As one of the current members of parliament noted, it is critical to have elections that are “free and fair but also free of fear.” The OAS mission will continue to pay particular attention to security throughout this process.

The imminent arrival of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Guyana has been welcomed by all parties concerned. The leaders and citizens of Guyana believe that the presence of this mission will facilitate the flow of information from the Elections Commission to the political parties and the general public, and provide a neutral assessment on preparations. Likewise, it is hoped that the presence of international observers will serve as a deterrent to violence and encourage peaceful, democratic dialogue in an environment of respect and tolerance.

There are three critical stages of the electoral process that will be closely monitored by the OAS electoral observation mission.

The first stage concerns electoral preparation. In addition to completing the voter registry, there is an array of other tasks that needs to be completed, including the registration of candidates, identification of polling sites, and recruitment and training of poll workers. As in other elections, the mission will lend its good offices during the pre-electoral process; serve as a conduit for the political parties, media and civil society on the developments of the pre-electoral process and continuously assess the technical preparations for elections. It is worth mentioning that a primary obstacle to completing these tasks has to do with the very structure of the Election Commission, which is comprised of individuals selected by the main political parties. The Commission has a particular responsibility to rise above political considerations and make technically sound and timely management decisions. This was a message I conveyed on several occasions during my visit to the country.

Secondly, the mission will closely monitor the legal and political situation between the August 4th constitutional deadline and Election Day itself. After the dissolution of parliament on May 4, there appears to be juridical ambiguity regarding the mandate of Government and parliament. The opposition asserts that consideration should be given immediately to extending the life of parliament beyond May 4 given the election date delay. Extension of parliament would require a “yes” vote by a two-thirds majority. Alternatively, the ruling party and the President of the Republic believe that an extension to parliament’s mandate is unnecessary, particularly if elections were to be held in September or October 2006. President Jagdeo has informed me that he has invited the Leader of the Opposition to meet. To date, this encounter has not taken place. Such a meeting should take place soon. Continuous and constructive dialogue between the PPP/Civic and the PNC/Reform leadership and efforts at consensus building will be critical in resolving current political issues as well as contributing to an environment of peace and stability. (In this regard, I should inform you that the Inter-Religious Organization of Guyana and other stakeholders have drafted a “Peace Pact and Code of Conduct” that they will present for signature to the political parties contesting the 2006 elections).

It is hoped that the period of uncertainty regarding the date of elections is of brief duration and that there will be a clear political will to have elections as expeditiously as possible. The mission registered concern that the positions of the two main political actors will harden and the space for dialogue and consensus will become more limited should there be a protracted period of uncertainty. If so requested and appropriate, the OAS Mission has offered its assistance in facilitating the lines of communication among the political actors.

Lastly, the post-electoral period must be dedicated to achieving consensus on national priorities, especially as it relates to political and electoral reform. Absent in recent years has been sustained dialogue among political parties and between political parties and the general public. While the responsibilities of the post-electoral process go beyond the mandate of the electoral mission, it is important to make this observation.

In 1992, when Guyana embarked on its transition to democracy, President Jimmy Carter advocated that the Elections Commission include divided representation between the ruling and opposition political parties, with an independent Chairman. This formula was important then as it ensured the inclusion of parties and provided a modicum of self regulation. Now, it is the opinion of many that this multi-party electoral structure has impeded the decision-making process. Management decisions, which should be technical, have become political. In the post-electoral process, the establishment of an independent, professional, nonpartisan Elections Commission should be priority.

Dialogue and consensus building need to begin immediately. Formal mechanisms already exist in Parliament and should be utilized. However, there is a need for established mechanisms for sustained dialogue beyond the parliamentary provisions.

The OAS electoral observation mission will be comprised of long- and short-term components. During the last week of April, the Mission will deploy a small group of experts who will establish an office in the capital, Georgetown. The work of this core group will be complemented by periodic visits of the Secretary General or me, accompanied by specialists from the Department for the Promotion of Democracy. The electoral process of 2006 stands as a crucial point in history as Guyana seeks to consolidate its democracy and promote a culture of peace and tolerance.

Before concluding my report, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the valuable contributions of the Governments of Brazil, Canada and the United States of America, which have made this important effort a reality through their contributions. I also wish to thank the Government of Guyana, the political parties and the general population for their confidence and trust in the Organization of American States.