The European Union’s Election Observation Mission (EOM) today deployed 14 long-term observers across the country.
The EU team is observing all aspects of the electoral process, including the election administration, legal framework, conduct of the campaign, involvement of civil society, and media coverage, which includes digital and social media platforms.
The primary intention of the EU Observer team is to assess compliance with Guyana’s electoral laws as well as regional and international commitments to democratic elections.
Speaking to reporters at the Pegasus Hotel this morning, the Deputy Chief Observer for the EU Observer Mission, Vania Angelova, said the deployment of the long-term observers marks the beginning of the the team’s full scale observation of the elections in Guyana.
“We are deploying 14 long term observers in the different regions. We will cover all 10 regions. Our long term observers will work in teams of two. They come from 14 different countries, and also when we form our teams we are very particularly paying attention to have gender balance,” Angelova said.
The long-term observers will closely monitor key aspects of the election at the regional level. Each team will meet and engage with key electoral stakeholders across the 10 Regions, including voters, election officials, political parties, civil society representatives and media.
“They will make independent, neutral and fact-based assessment of the election preparation, and also the election process in general in the different locations they are deployed,” she said.
Their findings, the official added, will contribute to the overall analysis of the EU EOM.
A core team of eight experts led by the EU EOM’s Chief Observer, Robert Biedron, a member of the European Parliament from Poland, has been in Guyana since July 23, engaging with key stakeholders including the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and political parties.
Closer to the September 1 General and Regional Elections, another team of 20 observers is expected to arrive in Guyana to assist with the observing of the elections.
In total, 50 EU observers are expected to arrive in the country.
The Deputy Chief Observer assured that all of the EU observers will follow a strict code of conduct for international observers in line with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation endorsed by the United Nations.
On September 3, two days after the elections, the EU EOM is expected to issue a preliminary report on its initial findings. A comprehensive report will be issued on a later date.
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