GUYANA - The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) held an orientation session on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, for accredited Local and International Observers ahead of the General and Regional Elections.
The goal was to provide observers with the information and understanding needed to perform their duties effectively. The briefing aimed to clarify personal observer roles, the roles of relevant election laws and officials, and to deepen knowledge of the electoral processes. It also sought to empower observers to assess how the entire process—from pre-election activities to the declaration of results—is implemented.
During remarks, Chairperson Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh emphasized that the presence of observers reflects a shared commitment to democracy and electoral integrity. She highlighted that observers play a crucial role in fostering public trust and confidence in the electoral outcome. The Commission’s objective is to share knowledge and insights enabling observers to monitor every stage of the process, ensuring elections are conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner in line with international standards.
The session featured comprehensive presentations from Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Aneal Giddings and Civic and Voter Education Manager Nardeo Persaud, focusing on the electoral process, polling day procedures, and the ascertainment of votes and the tabulation process. An interactive Q&A session, facilitated by Chief Election Officer Vishnu Persaud, followed, with detailed responses to participants’ questions. The CEO underscored the importance of observers as key stakeholders and expressed appreciation for their interest and diligent participation.
Attendees included Heads of Diplomatic Missions from the United States Embassy, British High Commission, and Canadian High Commission, alongside international observers from the Carter Center, the European Union, and the Commonwealth, as well as several local observer groups. The event was streamed live on GECOM’s YouTube Channel to accommodate observers yet to arrive in Guyana and local observers in remote areas, ensuring full participation.
To date, the Commission has approved nearly 700 observers representing about 20 organizations. GECOM expressed gratitude for ongoing observer support during the election period, noting its contribution to transparency and credibility in democratic societies. (inewsguyana)
