‘Orderly, peaceful’ – Int’l observers say about Election

Sep 02, 2025 News

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…but notes lack of clarity with positioning of voting booths

Kaieteur News – International observers have described Monday’s elections as peaceful and orderly based on their observations of the voting process.

There are about 200 international observers presently in the country to observe the 2025 General and Regional Elections. While citizens exercised their democratic right and voted for a party of their choice, international observers held separate press briefings to give updates on their observations of the electoral process.

The Chief of the Organization of American States/Electoral Observation Mission (OAS/EOM) in Guyana, Bruce Golding, former Jamaican Prime Minister disclosed that the mission visited 342 polling stations at the time of his press engagement.

He said the process was moving smoothly but noted that there was an issue at one of the polling stations visited. He noted that polling stations encountered issues that resulted in the polling station opening after 6 a.m., the designated time to start the voting process. However, Golding noted that the issue was quickly corrected and all the polling officials, the presiding officer, the assistant presiding officer, the poll clerk, and the ballot clerk were all in place. “So generally, we were satisfied that the polling exercise started out and up to the last visit that we made, and the last report that we got, everything has been proceeding in an orderly fashion, I was particularly impressed,” Golding said.

He added, “I myself visited 62 of those 342 polling stations since morning, and I was particularly impressed at how professional, how well trained the polling officials appeared to be. They knew what they were doing. They were not hesitant in applying the relevant rules and guidelines and all poll things have been going well.”

Further, he noted that at some polling stations, the voting compartment was fixed differently. He explained that it was fixed in such a way that it faced the wall, leaving the voters back towards the others in line.

“In some of the polling stations, we noticed that it was the opposite where it was turned around and when I inquired why that was so, I gather it was in relation to this effort to prevent voters from photographing their ballots where it was put in such a way that the officials and the party agents would be able to see whether anybody was, you know, fiddling with a smartphone,” he noted. In relation to this observation, Golding said that there was also some lack of clarity in the instructions given. In the instances where the voters’ backs were facing everyone else, Golding said it was impossible to see how the person voted. “So, I believe that where that occurred, it was more out of an abundance of caution, rather than any attempt to circumvent the process,” Golding noted.

Further, he said that at all the polling stations the OAS/EOM team visited, agents for the parties were present and vigilant in scrutinizing the process. “We did see some lines, not very long, but I would think in some of the cases that I visited, there perhaps would have been close to 20 persons in the line. But I didn’t get the impression that any of them were growing impatient. They seem to have been waiting patiently,” Golding said.

He noted that the mission will continue to visit as many polling stations as possible and will also observe the tabulation of the votes.

Golding then congratulated the voters on the “peaceful, disciplined” way in which they exercised their democratic right and said he expects the rest of the process to attract discipline, orderliness, and professionalism.

Meanwhile, Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission to Guyana, Robert Biedroń, said that the EU had 50 observers in several villages and towns across the country. “In all regions our observers are present today, observing this important part of Guyanese democracy,” he stated.

At that point, he noted that the mission is still observing and would be limited in what is disclosed at this stage. Biedroń said the EU was present from the opening of polls and will continue that presence until the very end of the electoral process. He explained that the data gathered by the 50 observers will give the mission a very clear picture of the voting process for all ten regions.

He noted too that this is the biggest component of observers and said they will follow the tabulation process across the country to ensure they have a clear picture.

Further, Biedroń stressed, “We are here to observe the elections, we provide impartial factual reports which are very valuable I believe for this country, our presence aims to contribute to a better understanding of the electoral process…and support its improvements.”

“We are here not to interfere in any processes. I want to stress this,” he said. He further noted that the EU mission will share its findings in a very transparent way. He disclosed that September 3rd will be the first time the mission comments on the 2025 electoral process, at a press conference to be held in Georgetown.

Moreover, Jason Carter of the Carter Center reminded during a media briefing that the Center has been present in Guyana for several elections. He noted that the mission has observers in every region across the country to observe the voting process from the opening of polls to the tabulation of the results and the days that follow.

Carter said the Center has been coordinating with the other international observer groups present in Guyana and that its observers have been in the country for several weeks to witness the entire electoral process. “We’re not going to draw any conclusions, of course, until after the day is over, and then after the tabulation process is complete, we do plan to issue a preliminary statement on Wednesday, September 3, where we can reflect on the Election Day and the tabulation process and then we issue a full report once we have a chance to really compile all of that information and observe the whole process to its completion,” Carter said.

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• Bruce Golding, Election Day, Georgetown, Guyana, Observation Mission, Union Election

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