In a statement on Sunday, the US Embassy announced that it had made a request on behalf of the Carter Center and the International Republican Institute for their observers to fly into Guyana on an Eastern Airways flight to be part of the vote recount process.
The embassy said the request was not approved.
While the Carter Center is an accredited observer for the elections, the International Republican Institute is not and did not serve as an observer for the elections.
The gazetted international observers for the elections are The Carter Center, the European Union, the Organization of American States, CARICOM and The Commonwealth.
The International Republican Institute was never listed, accredited or gazetted as an observer.
In the lead up to the 2nd March elections, the IRI supported the Elections Commission in its voter and civic education drive.
That support was done through the provision of two technical advisers to the Commission.
With the civic and voter education programme completed before the elections, it is unclear what would have been the role of the IRI at the recount process.
The recount is open to the political parties and their agents, international and local observers and a special high-level CARICOM team that will be scrutinizing the process.
News Source has sought clarification from the US Embassy on the issue of the International Republican Institute wanting to return at this time, but that clarification has not been forthcoming as yet.
The International Republican Institute (IRI) is based in Washington and has worked in the past globally to advance freedom and democracy by assisting political parties to become more issue based and responsive. It was founded by late US President, Ronald Reagan.
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