Carter Centre reps in Guyana
GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally
GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally

A THREE-MAN team from the United States of America-based Carter Centre is currently in Guyana, undertaking a further assessment, which is expected to inform their decision to field an electoral observer mission to Guyana.The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the Assistant Director from the Carter Centre’s Global Development Initiative, Mr Jason Calder, is heading the team. The other members include Mr Pedro Teixeira and Mr Bartek Lech.

Assistant Director from the Carter Centre’s GDI, Jason Calder
Assistant Director from the Carter Centre’s GDI, Jason Calder

Calder was in Guyana last month and, among other engagements, met with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
In a prior comment, Chairman of GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally, told the Guyana Chronicle that the first assessment undertaken by the Carter Centre related to the conduciveness of the existing climate for the hosting of elections, the electoral environment, and their impressions after speaking with political parties.
“The Carter Centre expressed their satisfaction with the positive developments that have been made, and felt that it would be good for them to return to Guyana. They are prepared to come back with as many as 30 people. Securing financing is the next step for them,” he said.
Dr Surujbally added, “They were not here in 2011, and they feel that it would be good for them to come back and be a part of the electoral process; which, according to them, moved from turbulence, violence and mayhem to a peaceful process,” he said.
According to him, a Carter Centre review of the advances in Guyana’s electoral processes could find the country being used as an example of how societies evolve.
PSC INVITATION
Additionally, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), in the latter part of March, wrote to US Secretary of State John Kerry requesting his assistance to have the Carter Center field a full observer mission for the elections.
The move is part of its ongoing quest to ensure that the May 2015 elections will be free and fair.
The Commission explained that this step was taken after extensive consultation with stakeholders and analysis of recent political developments had indicated that adequate independent and competent observers are needed to ensure that the elections are free and fair and free from fear, and that the results are free from contention and accepted by all competing parties.
The PSC made clear its full confidence in the Guyana Elections Commission to efficiently and effectively carry out their mandate; but it is important for the confidence of all stakeholders to have the work of GECOM independently observed and their outputs validated by respected third parties
LOCAL OBSERVERS
Meanwhile, GECOM, yesterday, met with representatives from the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB).
The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed thatthe meeting with GPSU and the GECOM Chairman addressed the protocols that all observers, local and foreign, will be required to sign onto certain protocols before they are accredited as observers.
The EAB, on the other hand, met with the Commission to address their information needs, relative to a voters’ list sampling exercise they intend to undertake.
The two groups are an addition to several other international observers missions expected to have a presence in Guyana for the May 11 General and Regional Elections.
The traditional observer missions include: the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

Dr Roger Luncheon
Dr Roger Luncheon

Of the lot, the OAS has confirmed that it will have a presence in Guyana, a commitment solidified by an agreement signed, on Thursday, by the OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, and the Permanent Representative of Guyana to the Organisation, Bayney Karran, in Panama City.
According to the body’s country representative, Jean Ricot Dormeus, a preliminary assessment mission is expected in Guyana next week to meet with stakeholders and make determinations on the size of the team and the length of stay.
Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, yesterday at a news conference, stated that no other group that was invited has confirmed that they will be in Guyana. However, he expressed confidence that the traditional groups will be in Guyana and that the Commonwealth, CARICOM and UNASUR will field teams.
Foreign observers, according to GECOM’s observer protocols, will be expected to adhere to more than 35 guidelines. In addition to the guidelines, the rights and privileges of accredited election observer groups were also outlined in the protocol.Similar rights and guidelines apply to local observer groups, which were detailed in a separate document seen by this newspaper.

 

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