…urge timely results by GECOM

INTERNATIONAL Observers, while applauding Guyana for conducting an almost seamless General and Regional Elections, underscored the importance of the delivery of timely results by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Monday’s elections, in which more than 600,000 Guyanese were listed to vote, was observed by five International Missions – the Carter Center, the European Union (EU), the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Commonwealth, in addition to 13 Local Observer groups.

OAS Chief of Mission, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, while observing the conduct of elections at the South Ruimveldt Secondary School in Georgetown, Region Four, said the electoral process was “good” and “smooth” but noted that there were a few hitches. At the time, he had already visited almost 40 polling stations.

“There was one polling station, for example, where they discovered that no poll book had been provided and the presiding officer there was very innovative. What she was doing was making notes of the issues that would go into the poll book on some other piece of paper with the intention of transferring it into the poll book whenever that was delivered,” the OAS Chief of Mission explained.

More than one hour before the opening of polls at 06:00hrs, long lines of electors were seen at polling stations countrywide. Once the polling stations were opened, the lines grew longer particularly for the first three hours. This, Golding said, was a major concern for the OAS, explaining that a number of voters had become impatient due to the extensive waiting time. He said those mostly affected were persons with disability and the elderly.

Additionally, it was observed that at some polling stations, across the country, the verification process and the issuance of ballot papers to electors were time-consuming when compared with others. Golding reasoned that this may have been as a result of the varying levels of experience acquired by polling day staff. “Some of them have been doing this job repeatedly for several elections, some of them are new and therefore it was taking a little extra time,” he explained while noting that the OAS Observer Mission will more than likely include recommendations in its report to enhance voters’ experience when next elections are held in Guyana.

“When we looked at the law, it may be possible with some minor changes to expedite that process without compromising the integrity of the balloting itself,” he said. Overall, Golding said that based on reports that came in from across the country, the electoral process was pleasing. “I was encouraged, however, to see the level of turn out,” he posited while noting that at some polling stations by mid-day more than 50 per cent of the electors had cast their ballots. Those were positive signs, he emphasised.

“Generally speaking things have gone well. At none of the stations that we visited, did we encounter any disruption; people were very peaceful, they were very orderly. I didn’t detect any tension from the persons waiting to vote although I am sure they are supporters of different parties,” the OAS Chief of Mission further added.

He noted that while the lines were long at certain locations, it was clear that the electors were determined to exercise their franchise in a dignified manner. “I think that is all to the credit of the Guyanese people; I think that they have a great deal of investment in this process, in this election, and for their sake I hope that what we have observed this morning, continues throughout the day and I hope that that same level of civility, tolerance, conscientiousness will govern the process of tabulating of the votes after the polls have closed, so that we can get results that would command the confidence of all of the people of Guyana,” he said.

However, hours after Golding had spoken to the press, there were two small confrontations among voters at Goed Intent-Patentia on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) and at Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) but the Guyana Police Force (GPF) managed to quell the situation at both locations.

Nonetheless, Golding, in his engagement with journalists, underscored the importance of the timely delivery of elections result. “It is not good to have an election on Monday and several days can pass before the people of Guyana can know what the outcome of those elections is. That is courting mistrust; it is providing fertile ground for rumours and conspiracy theories and in our discussions with GECOM we certainly urged them to do everything possible to complete the tabulation and to have the results declared as early as possible,” he said.

However, Golding said the OAS Elections Observer Mission is cognizant of the impact Guyana’s geographical layout has on the delivery of results of elections. At Eteringbang in Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven, GECOM officials were required to fly into the area on Friday, February 21, 2020 to facilitate voting by members of the Disciplinary Services. However, they experienced difficulty landing and had to return to Georgetown.

In other parts of Region Seven and Region Eight, communities could only be accessed by aircraft while in parts of Region One; communities are only accessibly by river. Golding said in those instances, time will have to be allowed for the transporting of the ballot boxes and statements of polls to ensure that they are carefully protected and their integrity, preserved. But he reasoned that while ballot boxes and statements of poll are being acquired from far flung communities, the Elections Commission can release preliminary results as they come in.

Questioned whether previous recommendations by the OAS had been implemented, Golding, in response, said not entirely. “A lot of the recommendations that were made by the OAS Mission that was here in 2015, and even the one that was here in 2011, those are still languishing and we find ourselves in a position where this mission would have to restate these recommendations because they are still valid,” he disclosed. Nonetheless, he said Guyana’s Electoral System, which is governed by the Constitution of Guyana, the Representation of the People Act Cap. 1:03, and the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, is a very robust one with the necessary checks and balances.

Meanwhile, over at the New Campbeville Secondary School, the officials from the Carter Center, which has more than 40 observers from 15 countries spread across the country’s 10 administrative regions, were seen keenly observing the electoral process. The Delegation led by former Prime Minister of Senegal, Aminata Touré; and Jason J. Carter, Chairperson of The Carter Center’s Board of Trustees said Monday’s election was a strong indication of Guyanese commitment to democracy.

“This is a big day for Guyanese democracy,” Touré said while underscoring the importance of voting. The former Prime Minister of Senegal also used the opportunity to call for Guyanese to demonstrate patience. Carter told journalists that the centre’s observers are busy assessing the elections and collecting valuable information on the process. “In a next few days we will be collecting those reports and we will be issuing recommendations with respect to this election,” he noted.

Both Touré and Carter indicated that the Centre would not disclose its findings until Wednesday, March 4, when it is expected to deliver a preliminary report. They said it was important to have a holistic view of the elections before a report is made public. This is the 5th Carter Centre Observation Mission since 1992.

Over at Six Head Gym, Russel Street, Albouystown, Head of the EU Observer Mission Urmas Paet told journalists that the EU had been monitoring the electoral process long before E-Day, and will conduct post-elections analysis now that the election has been held. The EU has approximately 53 observers in the 10 electoral districts. He said based on his analysis, voting went well for the masses. “Polling stations I visited everywhere I saw very professional attitude, and the process, so far was very smooth,” he posited.

Like the Carter Center, the EU Mission will be offering its analysis of the elections on March 4. He said the EU has taken up the mantle of observing the elections in the interest of strengthening the country’s democracy and the rule of law.

The General and Regional Elections were also observed by the Guyana Public Service Union, Ebenezer Congregational Church Foundation, AMCHAM Guyana, Private Sector Commission, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Canadian High Commission, Cuffy 250, The Bar Association, Transparency Institute Guyana, the US Embassy, British High Commission, Ethnic Relations Commission, and Youth Challenge Guyana.