The Carter Center yesterday hailed Monday’s voting process and urged leaders to act responsibly as official results are awaited even as they noted that key political leaders played on fears during the electoral process.
When questioned at a news briefing at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday about the parties declaring victory despite no official word from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), co-leader of the Carter Center election observation delegation Dame Audrey Glover expressed hope that there are no disturbances when the final results are officially declared by GECOM. She also said that there were no concerns about the sloth in releasing results by GECOM pointing out that Guyana’s laws cater for up to 15 days to declare results and yesterday was the first day since the polls closed.
Speaking on Monday’s process, the other co-leader of the Carter Center election observation delegation Dame Billie Miller of Barbados, said that all across the country, thousands of dedicated poll workers, party agents, and officials of GECOM served with honesty, integrity, and professionalism. Reading from a prepared statement, she said that GECOM officials and poll workers are to be commended for these efforts.
“All Guyanese should be proud of what transpired on Election Day. This is especially true because their efforts took place in an atmosphere of tension and anxiety that, unfortunately, was generated by key political leaders who played on fears during the electoral process. Rumors and allegations of provocative confrontations between ruling and opposition supporters swirled throughout Election Day,” she noted.
“On closer inspection by international observers, most issues, with only a few exceptions, turned out to be largely unfounded or easily explained. In spite of such attempts to sow discord, Guyanese generally remained calm, cast ballots, and retired for the evening while their votes were counted and transmitted to GECOM throughout the night,” she said.
The Carter Center’s Field Office Director Jason Calder when questioned about the “few exceptions” mentioned pointed to Monday evening’s disturbance at Sophia during which several vehicles were burnt. “It’s unfortunate that that took place,” he said while emphasising that this was the exception and the overall process was smooth.
In relation to the rhetoric, it was noted that there certainly was provocative rhetoric and the matter had been raised but the tone was much calmer in other areas. It was noted too that the rhetoric could undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Election Day
The Centre’s Democracy Program Associate Director Brett Lacy said that on Election Day, Carter Center observers visited 297 polling stations in all 10 regions, or about 13 percent of total stations, providing a relatively high degree of observation coverage. Carter Center observers witnessed opening, polling, closing, and counting procedures in all areas. In addition, Carter Center teams are currently in 9 of the 10 regions to observe the work of GECOM returning officers, she said.
Among the observations made were a generally calm and peaceful atmosphere throughout Election Day. “The implementation of procedures was rated positively at all stations observed during the polling period, and no major irregularities were reported,” Lacy said. She also observed that there was a strong presence of political party agents at polling stations visited, with APNU/AFC agents at more than 91 percent of stations visited and PPP/C agents at more than 90 percent of stations visited.
The Carter Center official said that there was a “positive environment” in almost all polling stations and Carter Center observers reported a positive overall assessment of the electoral process and environment at 98 percent of stations visited. During the counting process, statements of poll were completed according to procedures in polling stations visited, and party agents and domestic observers were invited to sign and received copies of the results, she said.
“Tension along party lines was observed in a few areas, which may have contributed to the delay in transferring electoral materials and processing results. GECOM and the police coordinated a response to these issues that improved the transfer of materials,” she added.
Meantime, Glover said that neither the Guyanese people nor the country as a whole have been able to develop to their full potential because of the political mobilization of ethnic and racial differences by the main political parties.
“The Carter Center sincerely hopes that now that the people have expressed their will peacefully and with dignity, Guyana’s political leaders will assume their responsibilities and respective roles as the next government and opposition, and will make a great effort to unify the
country and strengthen accountability so that Guyana can grow and develop to take its rightful place in the world,” she said.
Glover stated that as GECOM officials continue to conduct the tabulation and results process, the Carter Center strongly urges political parties and their leaders to act responsibly “and call for patience among their supporters and allow the process to proceed to its conclusion, reflecting the dignity that their constituents displayed on Election Day.”
Calder noted that although former U.S. President Jimmy Carter had to leave Guyana before Election Day, he was able to meet with key political leaders and other members of Guyanese society. He read a message from the former President who said: “Guyana and its people hold a special place in my heart, and I would like to thank them for the well wishes they expressed for me.”
“I had a bad cold and am feeling much better now. Democratic elections have winners and losers, and it is important for politicians to display leadership and magnanimity as Presidents Desmond Hoyte and Cheddi Jagan did at key moments in the past. I believe that the people of Guyana — especially its youth — want a future based on an inclusive democratic society that benefits all Guyanese,” Carter was quoted as saying.
Calder said that following the elections, the Carter Center will remain engaged in the weeks ahead. Officials said that a report on the mission including observations will be handed over to the Guyanese authorities in the coming days.
