The European Union (EU) has sent a full-fledged team to observe the March 2nd general elections and their main focus will be to observe that it will be inclusive, transparent and credible.
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) will issue a preliminary report on its assessment on March 4th and its full report with recommendations will be issued about three months later.
“We are here to observe if the election process is conducted in a transparent and credible manner. We will observe the extent to which the elections are in compliance with the laws of Guyana as well as international and regional commitments for democratic elections to which Guyana is a signatory,” Head of the Mission Urmas Paet told members of the media yesterday at the Marriott Hotel during a news conference.
Paet said the mission is independent and its observers have to adhere to a strict code of conduct for international observers that requires them to maintain strict neutrality and impartiality in the course of their work and non-interference in the electoral process. “As impartial election observers, we don’t care who wins, we care about how they win,” Paet said yesterday.
Asked about the mission’s presence in Guyana after nineteen years and the fact that it is now a full-fledged one that could number over 50 by March 2nd, Paet said it first had to do with the invitation from the President David Granger and then they looked at their resources.
“The presence of the EU Election Observation Mission demonstrates the European Union’s commitment to the conduct of inclusive, transparent and credible elections in Guyana. We focus our observation not only on Election Day, but on the entire electoral process, including [the] campaign, the results tabulation, and the resolution of any election-related disputes after voting has finished,” Paet said.
Since the mission has been in Guyana, its members have met with government officials, officials from the two main political parties—the PPP/C and PNCR—and meetings will continue over time. Paet has also met with Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Justice (retired) Claudette Singh.
Paet expressed the hope that the mission’s presence will have a positive effect on reinforcing confidence in the process.
In the run up to Elections Day, the mission will assess the legal framework, the voter and candidate registration, the campaign environment and the general elections preparation.
On Elections Day, it will observe the opening of polling stations, the voting process, the counting of the vote, the tabulation of results and any elections complaints that impedes the rights of persons to vote.
“The European Union attaches great significance to these elections,” Paet said, while adding that it will give “impartial, objective assessment of the process and urge all stakeholders to respect the rules and avoid any inflammatory language and violence.”
“I see these elections as an opportunity for all stakeholders to demonstrate the commitment to democracy by conducting a credible, transparent and inclusive election,” he added.
Further, he stressed that all contesting political parties should be free to campaign and to inform voters about their programmes on a level playing field, with equal access to the media and to public spaces.
Voters, in turn, should be allowed to cast their votes in secret for political parties of their choice, free from pressure, intimidation or any other kind of interference.
“We encourage full transparency and accountability of all the stakeholders involved in the elections as this enhances public trust and confidence in the electoral process,” he said.
Asked if there are any concerns so far, especially as it relates to what is being said on the campaign trail, Paet said while there may be concerns, they have underscored the importance for the voting process to be free and fair.
“Every person should understand that violence is not the solution. The best solution is persons being able to vote free of violence and intimidation,” he said.
Paet is confident that the political leaders understand this and pointed out that while the members of the mission are collecting information and making notes, any conclusions or assessment will be made after the elections as should these be made public before the poll date it could be “viewed as interference so this will be issued after the elections with recommendations.”
Presently the EU mission is composed of a core team of nine election experts, who have been in Guyana since January 25th, as well as 14 experienced long-term observers, who were deployed on February 4th across the ten regions to observe electoral preparations and the campaign.
Shortly before Elections Day, some 20 short-term observers will also join the team to observe voting, counting and tabulation of results. On Elections Day, the mission will be joined by some locally recruited short-term observers from EU member states’ diplomatic missions accredited to Guyana. It will bring the total number of EU observers to more than 50.
