–long-term observers deployed countrywide

THE European Union (EU) has officially launched its full-scale election observation mission (EOM) in Guyana, with long-term observers now deployed across the country to assess preparations for the upcoming general and regional elections.

Speaking to the local press on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Observer, Vania Anguelova, announced the commencement of the mission’s nationwide activities, noting that 14 long-term observers have been stationed in various regions to monitor the electoral environment.
“This marks the beginning of our full-scale election observation activities in Guyana. We are deploying 14 long-term observers in the different regions. We will cover all ten regions,” Anguelova stated.

Ahead of their deployment, the observers underwent a three-day briefing in the capital, during which they were educated on Guyana’s electoral laws and procedures. Their mission is to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive and impartial analysis of the electoral process.
“Our long-term observers will meet with the different stakeholders in the region. They will meet with political parties, candidates contesting there, local branches of the elections administration; they will also meet with the civil society, local media,” Anguelova explained.

Last week, the EU team, led by the chief observer and member of the European Parliament, had already begun consultations with key figures involved in the electoral process. These included representatives of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), political parties, presidential candidates, the judiciary, and civil society organisations.
“Last week we met with a series of interlocutors; we met with different institutions, including the [Guyana] Elections Commission, we met with political parties, presidential candidates; we met also with civil society, the judiciary,” Anguelova said.

She emphasised that the EU’s approach remains impartial and evidence-based.
“They will make an independent, neutral, and fact-based assessment on the election preparations and the election process,” she affirmed.
Closer to election day, the mission will be bolstered by an additional 20 short-term observers. In total, around 50 EU observers will be on the ground to observe polling, counting, and the tabulation of results.

The EU Election Observation Mission is expected to issue a preliminary statement shortly after election day, followed by a final report with recommendations aimed at supporting electoral reforms in Guyana.