Foreign observer groups have urged Guyanese to ensure peaceful and transparent elections on September 1, stressing the importance of respect for the law and confidence in democratic institutions.
The Organization of American States (OAS), the Carter Center, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the European Union (EU) and the Commonwealth have all deployed missions to observe Monday’s General and Regional Elections.
Bruce Golding, Jamaica’s former Prime Minister, leads the OAS mission, as he did for Guyana’s 2020 elections. The OAS mission said democracy’s strength rests on citizens’ “free and active participation”. It urged political parties and voters to act responsibly and said any disputes must be resolved through legal channels. The OAS team has met with government officials, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), parties, civil society and diplomats. They will monitor polling, counting and the release of results.
The Carter Center’s mission is headed by Jason Carter, grandson of the late U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who co-led its 2020 observation in Guyana. Carter’s agenda includes meeting with candidates, civil society and other missions before joining observers in monitoring election day, the tabulation process and the post-election period. “This is an important moment for Guyana’s democracy,” Country Director Jason Calder said, urging all eligible voters to make their voices heard and calling for a fully transparent process.
CARICOM has sent a 10-member mission led by Josephine Tamai, Belize’s Chief Elections Officer. Since arriving last week, the group has engaged GECOM, the Integrity Commission, police, rights bodies and the media, and is scheduled to meet with President Irfaan Ali, opposition parties and new political groups. The mission will issue a preliminary statement on September 2 and later provide a final report to the CARICOM Secretary-General.
CARICOM had fielded a special observer mission to observe Guyana’s national recount in 2020. The mission was instrumental in pronouncing on the credibility of the 2020 polls and the conduct of the recount, helping to bring the five-month impasse to a close.
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The EU’s election observation mission, led by Polish Member of the European Parliament Robert Biedroń, includes eight core experts and will assess the legal framework, campaign environment, civil society participation and media coverage, including online platforms. “Elections are more than ballots — they are the foundation of democracy,” Biedroń said. He stressed that the mission is impartial and focused solely on the integrity of the process. The EU will release a preliminary statement two days after the vote and a final report approximately two months later.
The Commonwealth has also deployed an observer group chaired by former Tongan Foreign Minister Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu. Its members include experts from across the Commonwealth with backgrounds in law, diplomacy, media and human rights. Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey said the team will operate independently and make recommendations to strengthen future elections.
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The elections will be closely watched internationally after Guyana’s controversial 2020 electoral process, which led to a five-month crisis before results were accepted. The ruling People’s Progressive Party is seeking re-election on a record of infrastructure, energy and social investments. At the same time, opposition parties argue the benefits of the country’s oil-driven boom have not been widely shared.
Observer groups say they will continue monitoring polling, counting and tabulation, and have urged calm and respect for the law as Guyanese prepare to cast their ballots.
