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Organization of American States Electoral Observation Mission Established in Guyana

  November 22, 2011

Professor Gordon Shirley, the Chief of Mission for the Organization of American States Electoral Observation Mission in Guyana (OAS/EOM) arrived yesterday in Georgetown, Guyana to prepare for the OAS/EOM that will be deployed for the November 28, 2011 Guyanese General Elections. Professor Shirley is currently the Principal of the Mona campus at the University of the West Indies and a former permanent representative to the OAS.

The OAS/EOM Guyana is conducting this observation mission following an invitation from the Government of Guyana and the mission will formally begin its work today following the signing of the electoral observation agreement between the OAS and the Guyana Elections Commission.

Leading up to election day Professor Shirley and members of the OAS/EOM team will be meeting and conducting interviews with the electoral authorities, political, governmental and international community representatives as well as with members of the media and of civil society in Guyana.

Also, later this week the OAS/EOM will deploy some 25 international electoral observers across Guyana in preparation for the election. These observer teams will also be in place throughout election day to observe the electoral process from the opening of the polls to the counting of results.

The OAS/EOM has noted with interest that both political parties and the media have each adopted and signed a Code of Conduct in view of ensuring that the electoral process unfolds in a fair and equitable manner, with respect and non-violence as cornerstones of a fair democratic process. The OAS/EOM urges all participants in the electoral process to adhere to these agreed to codes and conduct themselves according to the agreed to principles.

The OAS/EOM encourages all electoral participants to ensure that the November 28 election is conducted in a framework of peace and normalcy.

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

Reference: E-970/11