I have today received the report of the Chief and Deputy Chief of the CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission to the General Elections in Guyana, on 19 March 2001.
The Mission was established by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), following a request by the President of Guyana that CARICOM monitor the General and Regional elections in that country, which were being held in accordance with agreements reached under the Herdmanston Accord.
The Mission was led by Hon. R. Carl Rattray, OJ, QC, former President of the Court of Appeal of Jamaica. He was assisted by Mr. J. Mc Clair Daniel, Chief Elections Officer of Saint Lucia. The Mission included eight (8) Observers drawn from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Mission has reported that in preparing to observe the elections, it held discussions with all stakeholders on the electoral process and apprised itself of the technical preparations for the elections.
The Mission is of the view that a genuine effort was made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to hold elections that were free, fair and transparent. A serious commitment to a fair electoral process was evident.
The Mission regrets however that continuing difficulties with the Official List of Electors (OLE) resulted in the disenfranchisement of some eligible electors. Members of the Mission met a number of persons who held proof of registration, but were not able to vote because their names were not on the OLE. The extent of these omissions could not be quantified. It is important that the shortcomings of the registration system be resolved to avoid a recurrence of such occurrences.
On the day of the elections, the CARICOM Mission visited in excess of 200 polling stations in four of Guyana’s ten Regions – Regions 4, 5, 6, and 10. A few minor irregularities were reported, such as the late opening of some polling stations due to a lack of materials or security. However, taken as a whole, the teams agreed that the poll was orderly, transparent and in compliance with established procedures.
The Mission was however disappointed that after an admirable electoral process during the day, considerable confusion was created at 18:00 hrs, precisely at the close of polls, with an announcement from the GECOM that the polls should remain open. Word of the extended opening was conveyed to the Presiding Officers in most instances in a very informal manner and after the ballot boxes had been already closed. This created a sense of uncertainty among poll staff which eventually translated into inconsistencies in the closing of the poll.
However, the Mission agrees that the electoral process was conducted in an atmosphere free of intimidation or fear and was transparent and that therefore the outcome of the Elections would be fair.
The Mission regretted that on 22 March 2001, there was some disorder in several areas along the East Coast of Demerara. It suggested that reconciliation between the two major political parties was necessary in the interest of the future governance of Guyana and its people.
