OAS elections observing mission head, Professor Gordon Shirley today said that after a series of meetings and interviews here he was encouraged that all stakeholders were confident that there are “no significant impediments to delivering a smooth and inclusive general and regional election”.
In a statement today, the OAS/EOM which is fielding the largest overseas team of observers, said that Professor Shirley and other members of the team had conducted a large number of meetings and interviews over the past week to assess the political and social context leading up to Monday’s general and regional elections.
“I have personally met with representatives of political parties, the electoral authorities, civil society, and the media to assess the environment in the period leading up to election day,” said Professor Shirley. “Following these meetings, I am encouraged that all interveners in the electoral process have confidence in the general and regional elections of Monday November 28, 2011, that preparations for the vote are well in hand and that there are no significant impediments to delivering a smooth and inclusive general and regional election”, he added.
The statement said that in the past few days the Chief of Mission and his team have met or will be meeting with Senior Governmental officials, all parties fielding Presidential candidates, Amerindian groups, civil society organizations, various levels at GECOM, security forces, diplomatic and international community, print and broadcast media representatives, private sector representatives, local observation organisations, and unions.
Arrival
Meanwhile, Caricom yesterday announced the arrival of its observer mission.
In response to an invitation from the Guyana Government a fifteen member Observer Group under the leadership of Hensley Robinson of Barbados and Lorna Simon of Antigua and Barbuda was selected with the Core Group of Robinson and Simon arriving in Guyana on Tuesday, 22 November 2011.
The statement said that the Core Group has already met with President Bharrat Jagdeo, Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General, CARICOM, Ambassador Colin Granderson, Assistant Secretary-General, Foreign and Community Relations and other members of the CARICOM Secretariat, the Chairman of GECOM, Dr. Steve Surujbally, the Chief Elections Officer, Gocool Boodoo, representatives of political parties and other societal groups.
The statement said that in performing the duties of observation as required by CARICOM, this Mission will as far as is humanly possible endeavour to observe the processes in the coming General Elections and make the necessary reports.