FORMER U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who was here for the historic elections in 1992 and was here again for the recent historic elections but had to leave Guyana after becoming ill, has congratulated newly sworn-in President of Guyana, David Granger, on his ascension to the highest office in Guyana.

“I would like to congratulate President David Granger and the APNU/AFC coalition on their success in the 2015 election. I have great expectations that the new government will reach out and promote healing and reconciliation in Guyana. It is now time for all Guyanese to unite and work together to realise the great potential of their country,” he said in a statement.

Though former President Carter has departed Guyana, members of the Carter Centre remained to monitor the elections. The Carter Centre deployed more than 50 observers throughout all 10 regions of Guyana for the 2015 General and Regional Elections. Its observers have remained in Guyana to monitor the process of tabulating and declaring results.

The Carter Centre has commended the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for a job well done in managing the elections, and has declared that the process was free, fair, and transparent.

The PPP/C has, however, contended that the elections were not without irregularities; but the British, Canadian, U.S., Caricom and Commonwealth observer missions have maintained that the process was fair and free of any irregularities.