The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) recorded 111 infractions in the lead up to the September 1 General and Regional Elections – a figure it said is significantly lower when compared to infractions recorded during the highly controversial 2020 Elections.

In its Elections Observation Report on the 2025 General and Regional Elections released on Sunday, the ERC said throughout the election period, its Media Monitoring Unit tracked online and broadcast content of media houses, political parties and political influencers.

The Unit, according to the ERC, detected just over 100 infractions between July and September, 2025.

“From July to September 2025, the Unit recorded 111 infractions, a figure significantly lower and less severe than what was observed during the 2020 elections. Campaign monitoring across nine regions revealed relatively few instances of racially divisive or inflammatory statements, highlighting an overall improvement in public discourse and political messaging,” the report stated.

It explained that the Unit issued 64 cautionary warnings – 37 in July and 27 in August, while an additional 47 cautionary warnings were issued in September – a total of 111 infractions.

Of that number, 35 of infractions related to racial slurs, while 32 were categorized as “intolerant, prejudice or insensitive.” The ERC reported further that 15 of the infractions were racially hateful, while another four were religiously hostile and intolerant. It said too that seven of the infractions were racially derogatory and disparaging, 11 racially divisive and one racially inflammatory or inciting.

“The figures showed that racial slurs and the combined category of prejudice or intolerant statements attained the highest number of infractions at thirty-five (35) and thirty-two (32) respectively while social media comments with racially statements followed with fifteen (15) recorded instances. Racially divisive remarks which would primarily feature negative sentiments expressed toward the two dominant groups (Afro and Indo-Guyanese) accounted for eleven (11) infractions during the three-month period,” it explained.

The Investigative Unit, the ERC added, recorded 29 complaints during the election period, 17 of which were directly election-related. The number, the Commission said, represents a substantial reduction compared to the 124 complaints recorded during the protracted 2020 elections.

It attributed the decrease to strengthened election management, improved timeliness of electoral processes, and increased ERC public education efforts.

“Drawing on lessons from the highly contentious 2020 electoral cycle, the Commission implemented a multi-layered programme focused on public education, hate-speech mitigation, campaign and media monitoring, stakeholder consultations, and formal observation of the electoral process. These efforts were designed to reduce ethnic tensions, counter inflammatory rhetoric, and promote a peaceful environment before, during, and after the elections,” the ERC explained.

Those initiatives included workshops on countering hate speech, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) trainings, and regional outreach programmes.

It said based on its observation, the 2025 General and Regional Elections were peaceful, free, fair, and transparent.

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