Commonwealth observers report free will in Guyana

While Guyana’s General and Regional Elections allowed for a free expression of will by the country’s electors, urgent action is required to ensure the drawing up of a new voters’ register which commands the confidence of the people.

This is contained in the Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group that was present in Guyana for the elections on 28 August 2006.

The 11-member Group, chaired by Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, noted that the present situation, where much of the population distrusts the voters’ register due to evidence of an inflated register, was neither satisfactory nor sustainable. The Observers stressed that it was critical for the issue of the voters’ register to be addressed promptly, particularly with the prospect of local government elections being held in the near future.

The Report also noted the importance of reconfiguring the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission, which comprises nominees of parliamentary political parties.

“The Commission should consist of persons who, while they have the confidence of the political parties, are independent of them. Members of the Commission should neither be appointed by nor responsible to the parties, but should owe their loyalties only to the needs of Guyana and its Elections Commission,” the Group stated.

The Report recommended that the Commission’s independence from government would be better assured if it were accountable directly to Parliament -- with funding directly by Parliament -- and not under the control of a government department.

The Report pointed out that while there is a requirement that one-third of the list of political party candidates be women, “this is not necessarily reflected in the candidates chosen to become members of the National and Regional Assemblies”.

The Group recommended that electoral boundaries be reviewed with a view, as far as possible, to having constituencies with a similar voting population size. The present laws on campaign finance should be enforced, according to the Report, and they should be reviewed to ensure adequacy. Voter education should be stepped up while media ethics should be improved to enhance election coverage. It added that the practice of declaring polling day as a public holiday should be continued in future elections.

The Report, signed by the Observers prior to their departure from Georgetown on 5 September, was sent to Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon on 8 September 2006. It was then sent to the President of Guyana, the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, the main political parties and Commonwealth governments, and the media.

The 2006 General and Regional Elections of Guyana were won by the incumbent People's Progressive Party/Civic, thereby returning President Bharrat Jagdeo to office for a second term on 2 September 2006.

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Guyana
• Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group
• Democracy Section