An agreement was yesterday signed by the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on the Electoral Observation Process for the 2015 General and Regional Elections.
A release from GECOM said that the agreement was compiled by the OAS. The signing was done when the OAS Chief of Mission, Lisa Shoman visited GECOM. The agreement outlines the conditions under which the OAS will execute its electoral observation exercise, before, during and after the conduct of the May 11 General and Regional Elections.
GECOM Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, after the signing, briefed the OAS team on GECOM’s state of preparedness for the upcoming elections, the release said. He said that GECOM has already written to the eight political groups contesting the May 11, General and Regional Elections, informing them of their eligibility. He also mentioned that GECOM is on the verge of posting the Official List of Electors (OLE).
Dr. Surujbally further explained to the OAS team that GECOM has already finalised all the Polling Stations which will be used on Election Day and currently is engaged in refresher training of Polling Day staff.
GECOM is committed to working within the guidelines of the agreement signed and looks forward to positive electoral observation reportage from the OAS, the release said.
Shoman, a former Belizean Foreign Minister said that the OAS intends to field a team of about a dozen observers who will be strategically placed across the country during Election Day. She also revealed that the OAS representatives should be arriving in Guyana on Tuesday May 5, 2015 and will be staying even after Election Day.
Accompanying the OAS Chief of Mission was the OAS Deputy Chief of Mission, David Álvarez Veloso and the Resident OAS Representative in Guyana, Jean Ricot Dormeus.
GECOM’s Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally was accompanied by the Chief Election Officer,. Keith Lowenfield, and the Public Relations Officer, Richard Francois.
