An 11-member Commonwealth Observer Group has been deployed to Guyana by the Commonwealth Secretary General to observe the elections, and the Group intends to issue an interim statement on its preliminary findings on the elections just two days after Monday’s polls.
The Commonwealth Observer Group is being headed by former Foreign Minister of Tonga, Mrs Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu.
In a statement, the Head of the Commonwealth Observer Group said the Group has no executive
role, and its function is not to interfere with, but to observe, the process as a whole and to make recommendations accordingly.
She said the Commonwealth Group will observe the pre-election environment, polling day activities and the post-election period. It intends to consider whether the conditions exist for credible elections, including a fair election environment; whether public media has been impartial; the transparency of the entire process; whether voters are free to express their will; and whether the counting and results process is transparent.
It was noted that the Group will then report on whether the elections have been conducted in accordance with the standards to which Guyana has committed itself, including its national law,
regional and international commitments.
The Commonwealth Observer Group has said that in conducting its duties, it will be guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, objectivity and independence.
Before Election Day, the Group will be meeting with stakeholders including the Guyana Elections Commission, government representatives, political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, citizen and international observer groups, diplomats, and the media.
Observers in small teams will fan out across the country from the 30th August to meet with stakeholders and observe the pre election environment.
On Election Day, the Commonwealth Group says it will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and the results management processes.
While an interim statement on the Group’s preliminary findings will be issued on the 3rd of September, before members of the Group depart Guyana, a final report will be prepared and submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary General, and later shared with relevant stakeholders and the public.
Following its observation of the 2020 Guyana Elections, a number of recommendations were put forward by the Commonwealth Group.
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