The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) observer mission will be sending teams to monitor polling stations in Regions Three, Four, Six and Ten for today’s general elections, mission coordinator Dr Domingo Paredes said yesterday.
Over 16 observers will be dispatched to three polling stations in Parika, Region Three, four polling stations in Georgetown, Region Four and three polling stations in Linden, Region 10. These locations were observed during the 2011 General Elections.
Paredes told reporters at a press briefing at the Marriott Hotel yesterday that New Amsterdam, Region 6 was added to the mission with four polling stations to be observed. Paredes said that adding a rural destination would provide variety as well as widen the scope of the mission when making recommendations on the elections.
He said that the process was sacred and that respect of the popular will is necessary for peace and trust. Paredes said that ultimately respecting the lawful results and exercising all legal means in cases of dissatisfaction by any political party is just as important in upholding the democratic process.
The team arrived four days ago and will be leaving tomorrow.
When asked by Stabroek News if the time period was enough to give an accurate assessment of the political atmosphere, Paredes skirted around the issue saying that Guyana could have requested a mission to observe the entire electoral process or the results process. During the 2011 general elections, the UNASUR team arrived a week prior to Election Day.
Paredes said that UNASUR was invited to partake during this period and refused to comment on any preliminary findings in relation to the current political climate.
He said that all findings and remarks will be submitted in the final report along with the recommendations.
The Mission Head stated that UNASUR was committed to ensuring best practices but noted that any and all recommendations made in previous reports are within a country’s sovereign right to either accept or not. He said that the job of UNASUR is not to judge the process but rather document it.
Paredes highlighted that the observer mission is focused on the inclusion of elderly and handicapped voters’ rights and will be looking for facilities that cater to these two groups.
He said that during the electoral process of all UNASUR countries, “evil practices” can arise and the group is prepared to coordinate with the Guyana Police Force as well as the Guyana Defence Force to ensure that the purity of the process is protected.
Paredes noted that there have been meetings between UNASUR and the other observer missions. The team has also met with GECOM and members of the Foreign Ministry. He said that the report of the mission will be submitted to GECOM.
