–    not foreseen that EU will monitor elections, says Heikens
AMBASSADOR Geert Heikens, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, yesterday informed media personnel that the European Union will not be funding or monitoring Guyana’s upcoming general elections. According to Mr. Heikens, the EU has taken cognisance of the disclosure by President Bharrat Jagdeo that Guyana’s government will be financing this country’s general elections, due to be held during this year; thus, the question of funding by donor agencies for this purpose is moot.
The EU Ambassador also expressed his confidence in the electoral process and assured media operatives that, apart from his personal interest, officially there will be no surveillance of Guyana’s general elections, either in his capacity as EU Ambassador, nor will any delegation be assigned by the EU for such a purpose.
Note has been taken, emphasised Ambassador Heikens, that, the President has given the assurance that anyone desirous of monitoring Guyana’s general elections is welcome, with no restrictions placed on their monitoring activities.
He reflected that monitoring bodies will most likely be delegated by the OAS, CARICOM, and the Commonwealth, but reiterated that the EU will reserve its capacities for countries where there is a perceived need for such a monitoring unit.
With regard to the closure of the UNDP-funded Media Monitoring Unit, Ambassador Heikens disclosed that Chairman of the Elections commission, Mr. Steve Surujbally has indicated that he will take the initiative to re-establish that body.
Touching on several subjects of interest, Mr. Heikens disclosed that the EU has confidence in Guyana’s macro-economic fundamentals and trusts its implementation systems, although conceding that there is scant traceability of EU funding.
However, the Ambassador asserted that projects for which funds are disbursed are always intensely scrutinized and keenly monitored and, except for oftentimes unscheduled delays there is overall satisfaction in the works done by implementing agencies of EU-funded projects.
He revealed that he is often on the ground with his officers and has no reason to doubt that the monies are not used for the purposes intended.