Commonwealth observers urge Guyana to implement suggestions to reinforce electoral course of

A Commonwealth group, tasked with observing Guyana’s 2025 normal and regional elections, has urged Guyana to implement essential suggestions aimed toward enhancing the credibility and transparency of future elections.

An interim statement from the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) recommended the peaceable atmosphere earlier than and through polling. It famous that election-related procedures had been largely revered, as had been requires peace and nationwide unity made by the President, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and leaders of different political events, within the days main as much as the election.

Delivering the interim assertion on behalf of the group, Mrs Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, Chairperson and Former Foreign Affairs Minister of Tonga, mentioned:

“The Group noted with concern the very limited implementation of the recommendations of observer groups over the years. The Group encourages all political stakeholders to give priority to the establishment of a robust post-electoral domestic mechanism that may, in short order, produce the legislative and constitutional reform needed for the conduct of credible, transparent and inclusive elections.”

This is the eighth consecutive election that the Commonwealth has been invited to watch in Guyana since 1992.

The interim assertion applauded the Guyanese authorities’s work on the harmonisation of laws to replace and make clear the authorized framework for elections by means of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, Act 25 of 2022, and the National Registration (Amendment) Act, Act 26 of 2022.

However, it urged the respective authorities to deal with the difficulty of distrust in regards to the Official List of Electors, the adoption of media codes of conduct in session with the media, as utilized in previous elections, and the reform and regulation of marketing campaign financing to advertise equity, transparency, and accountability.

Final election outcomes have but to be launched by GECOM. Mrs Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, known as on authorities to conduct the outcomes announcement course of with diligence and transparency. She mentioned:

“We hope the peaceful tenor of the electoral process thus far will continue as we await official results. We call on all political parties to continue to encourage their candidates, supporters and other stakeholders to work for national unity, peace and solidarity.”

The Group is now finalising its ultimate report, an impartial evaluation setting out its full findings on all the electoral course of, with detailed suggestions to additional enhance Guyana’s electoral course of.

The ultimate report will then be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Hon Shirley Botchwey and thereafter shared with all related stakeholders.

Read the interim statement
 

Related content material

Commonwealth Observer Group start work in Guyana, forward of September ballot
Read the Press Release, Commonwealth to watch Guyana’s 2025 normal and regional elections
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