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CARICOM Observer Mission issues preliminary statement on elections

Nov 30, 2011 News

 

 

The atmosphere at polling stations on Elections Day on Monday was conducive for free and fair elections. This notion was offered by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Electoral Observer Mission which in its assessment of Elections Day stated that the people of Guyana were given the opportunity under good conditions to elect a government.
A statement issued by the body said that the CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission was mounted at the invitation of the Government of Guyana to monitor the conduct of the General and Regional Elections.
The Core Group of two persons namely Mr. Hensley Robinson of Barbados, Head of Mission, and Ms. Lorna Simon of Antigua and Barbuda, Deputy Head of Mission, arrived in Guyana one week before elections day and immediately began discussions with the officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in the persons of Dr. Steve Surujbally, the Chairman, and Mr. Gocool Boodoo, the Chief Elections Officer, and officials from the Police, Political Parties, Commerce and Industry, the Public Service Union, the Trades Union Congress and the Local Human Rights Association.
The main party of the group, which comprised some 13 persons arrived two days later and was joined by four persons from the CARICOM Secretariat. The 19 persons were deployed in eight teams of two each and one of three to cover Elections Day activities.
On Election Day one team was deployed in Regions Three, Five and 10 respectively; two teams to Region Four and four teams to Region Six.
In addition to the “Scope of Services” provided by the CARICOM Secretariat, the teams were further advised to pay special attention to: the opening of the poll; the voting process; the environment at polling stations; and the closing of the poll and the count.
According to the statement members of the Mission visited a significant number of polling stations which provided them with adequate opportunity to make a good overall assessment on the conditions in those areas.
“The polling stations opened on time and it was clear to all of us that the officials representing GECOM and the Chief Elections Officer were well trained and prepared for the tasks.”
During the early hours of the poll, observers noticed long lines at the polling stations, but in spite of that the behaviour was very good, the statement asserted.
“The officials remained calm and focused and the observation is that the process was transparent and in those circumstances electors were able to give free expressions of their feelings when casting their ballots.”
It was further asserted that the long lines immediately after the polls opened were by mid-morning reduced significantly. Additionally, it was revealed that the electoral officials continued to perform well and the procedures as laid down by GECOM were adequately followed.
It was stated that at the closing of the polls at the 15 stations visited it was observed that there was no one waiting in line to cast a vote at 6:00 pm., hence only the officials, police and observers witnessed the closing of poll.
Moreover, no issues arose with the counting of the ballots and all the observers took part in that process and were satisfied with the proceedings.
The statement also added that a full report on the Mission’s findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Secretary-General of CARICOM.

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