Local observers very important for elections

From right to left are Luis Martinez Betanzos- UNDP Chief Electoral Advisor LAC; Gerardo Noto – Resident Representative UNDP Guyana & Suriname; EU Ambassador to Guyana René van Nes and Yeşim Oruc – Resident Coordinator United Nations Guyana.

-democracy forum hears

Local elections observer missions are more important watchdogs of the process  than international monitors and countries should ensure that representatives from many diverse groups are a part of that process, a panel on democracy underscored on Wednesday.

“At the UN, we are pushing very hard (for)  national observers …they are the ones who have good coverage, that’s important and they are needed…,” Gerardo Noto – Resident Representative of the UNDP for Guyana and Suriname  told a University of Guyana ‘Democracy Talks’ forum, held in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union and other partners at the Marriott Hotel.

He was joined by panelists Luis Martinez-Betanzos UNDP’s Chief Electoral Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean and EU Ambassador René van Nes  for Part 2 of UG’s Democracy Talks series and focused on the European Parliamentary Elections, set from  June 6th to 9th of this year. The forum was moderated by Yeşim Oruç, – Resident Coordinator United Nations Guyana.