-US Ambassador says

OUTGOING United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, on Thursday, said that all options in Guyana should be explored to ensure free and fair electoral processes.

The Ambassador made this remark during her final engagement with members of the local media fraternity at the Herdmanston Lodge.

During this press engagement, she was questioned about the possibility of Guyana integrating biometrics as part of its election process.

In response, she noted that it is her understanding that authorities here are exploring this.

Lynch said that many other countries are also exploring biometrics and, according to her, it is one additional tool that can be used to ensure that elections held here are free and fair.

“I don’t know what the final decisions will be but it is important to explore all tools that Guyana has access to in order to again make sure that elections continue to be free and fair,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, when asked about the advice she would give to leaders here as the country heads into the process of constitutional reform, she indicated that moving forward it is important for the opposing parties to converse.

While she noted that these parties will not agree on everything, she emphasised that it was important for them to come together on the areas that they agree on.

Against this backdrop and given what occurred during the 2020 elections, the ambassador stated that she would advise that all parties look at the recommendations that came following those elections to see what can be worked on immediately.

“You don’t want to wait till it is last minute. I think some of these recommendations may take some time so you need to start working on them now,” she added.

She said too that one of the recommendations that may take some time to address concerns persons with disabilities’ ability to access polling stations which would require infrastructural changes.