Observer missions flag lack of access to public information

Sep 04, 2025 News

Kaieteur News – The Commonwealth observer mission and the Carter Center on Wednesday raised concerns about complaints regarding the lack of access to public information and made recommendations to address the situation.

During separate media briefings during which they released preliminary reports of their elections observations so far, the Commonwealth mission noted that it is concerned with the allegations of dissatisfaction with the lack of access to public information, which includes from the Office of the Commissioner of Information.

“We recommend adequate resourcing and empowerment of a mechanism to efficiently respond to public information requests that will promote public transparency and accountability around elections,” Commonwealth chair Fekitamoeloa Katoa Utoikamanu said.

The Carter Center in its preliminary report said that access to information is a critical means of ensuring that there is informed public participation, accountability and transparency. “Elections conducted in the absence of adequate public access to information, including key elements of the electoral process, undermine their integrity. A well-informed electorate is essential to any electoral process and is a fundamental building block of a meaningful democracy,” the centre stated.

In its Aug. 19 pre-election statement, the Carter Center had noted several shortcomings that undermine public access to election-relevant information, such as the failure to publish the census, the absence of campaign and party finance data, limited information around GECOM decision-making, and obstacles faced by some media outlets and citizens in obtaining public information. Additionally, the U.N. Human Rights Committee, in its May 2024 report, noted concerns that the commissioner of information does not respond to all requests and urged Guyana to ensure that the right of access to information is effectively exercised.

In its elections manifesto, the PPP/C had promised improvement in the of access to public information.

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Carter Center, Commonwealth, information, lack of access, Vice President

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