Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 08, 2015 News
While calling for peaceful elections, the Commonwealth Observer Group currently in Guyana has asserted that it can only observe the elections but not enforce recommendations that it would have made.
Instead, the group said, the onus is on local stakeholders to ensure that the framework set up for General and Regional Elections is adhered to and penalties dispensed if there are infractions.
During a brief press conference at Cara Lodge yesterday, Head of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Kate Wilkinson, explained that though the body releases its report on its observances and make recommendations, it is not charged with the implementation of those recommendations.
During its last visit in 2011 the Observer Group made a number of recommendations encompassing a number of areas; these recommendations are yet to be evident.
Wilkinson emphasised that the body can merely observe and not sanction for infractions. She said too, that the body has “specific terms of references” that keeps it impartial and merely as observers.
“We act with impartiality, objectivity and independence. We do not have a supervisory role,” Wilkinson said. “We plan to take every opportunity to see and understand the election process for ourselves.”
For the duration of the general and regional elections, the group will assess whether the elections have been conducted according to standards Guyana has committed itself to. These standards include a constitutional and legislative framework and relevant Commonwealth and international commitments.
The Commonwealth Observer Group was invited to Guyana by the Government.
However, its time here is not its first. Since 1992, the Commonwealth has been observing election exercises in Guyana.
This year’s group is made up of seven persons from different regions of the Commonwealth. The group arrived in Guyana on Tuesday and has already met with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), some of the political parties and other international organisations.
Further, the group met with a number of relevant stakeholders including youth representatives, other observer groups, and members of the business community. Wilkinson indicated that the group will be working along with other observer groups, both local and international, to ensure that its coverage is “all encompassing”.
Meanwhile, as crunch time draws nearer, teams will be deployed across Guyana to observe the election environment and preparations for Election Day, Wilkinson said. She explained that on Election Day, teams will observe a number of procedures including the opening and closing of the polls, the polling itself, the counting of votes and finally the transmission of the results.
Furthermore, an interim statement of key findings will be released shortly after the elections before a final report is prepared. The final report will be an assessment to be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General before it is transmitted to GECOM, the Government, local political parties and finally all Commonwealth governments. The report will eventually become publicly available.
“We look forward to a high turnout on election-day and the conduct of peaceful elections,” Wilkinson said. She went on, “We encourage political parties to take a constructive approach to campaigning in these remaining days before the election. We also strongly urge the parties to respond to the officially declared results in a responsible manner.”
The group is expected to depart Guyana on May 17.
Listen to the man that is throwing Guyanese bright future away
Mar 19, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – The Dennis DeoRoop-trained horse, Stolen Money, dominated the field to claim victory in the feature event at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot East Berbice on...Kaieteur News – The government has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure development spree. It has initiated major... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – In 2024, a series of general elections in Latin American countries, including... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]