Latest update August 6th, 2026 12:35 AM
Latest News
Duncan slams UNDP’s “glowing” elections report – says GECOM’s real conduct tells a different story
…questions absence of livestreams, limited press conferences
(Kaieteur News) – Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan has raised sharp concerns about what he calls a “troubling disconnect” between the UNDP’s recent assessment of Guyana’s 2025 elections and the actual conduct of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) during the period.
The UNDP, in a publication titled “Strengthening Trust in Democracy: UNDP’s Support to Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections,” praised GECOM for developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy, branding manual, crisis communication protocol, and upgraded outreach efforts. It also highlighted new media policies, training for more than 100 journalists, inclusive messaging, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and a Media Centre that facilitated real-time updates on Election Day.
Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan
But Duncan, an APNU legislature in a statement issued Sunday, said the UNDP’s glowing account does not align with the experiences of the media, political parties, or the public during the election cycle. According to the MP, GECOM’s actual communication practices were “anything but transparent.”
“From May 1 to September 30, GECOM issued roughly twenty press statements,” Duncan noted. “But when it came to live engagement, the clearest test of any communications strategy, the Commission held only a handful of press conferences, fewer than five in total. None of these were livestreamed by GECOM itself, despite livestreaming being standard international practice to ensure transparency, avoid misinformation, and provide equal access to all media houses.”
Duncan said at almost all of these engagements, the Public Relations Officer was left to carry the responsibility alone. “The Chairperson was largely absent, appearing only once across the entire cycle. The CEO and DCEO deferred answers to several critical questions. At the 22 November 2024 press conference, veteran journalist Gordon Moseley directly confronted the GECOM Chair, stating that she was “dodging questions”, a public expression of frustration that underscores the gap between UNDP’s claims and the lived reality of election communications in Guyana. Stakeholders at GECOM’s own meetings complained of slow answers, inaccessible information, and unresolved queries regarding joined lists, polling agents, death removals, and voter-list accuracy. These are not the hallmarks of a functioning “Crisis Communication Protocol.”
According to the APNU MP, they are signs of institutional communication strain and internal silence. “What is equally striking is what the UNDP statement does not say. There is no identification of remaining gaps, no discussion of outstanding reforms, no analysis of what did not work, and no candid reflection on structural weaknesses that still undermine public trust. Every serious technical report includes an honest balance of strengths and shortcomings. UNDP’s statement does not.
“In the wake of the EU’s findings and the President’s defensive posture, that omission is deeply concerning. Guyana needs clarity, not contradictions. If a Communications Strategy truly exists, the public should have seen it during the election. If a Crisis Communication Protocol was adopted, it should have been visible in real-time engagement, not only in a donor report. If deliverables were completed, Parliament should be able to scrutinise them. And if there are gaps, and the evidence clearly shows that there are, they must be acknowledged and addressed before the next electoral cycle.” “We welcome UNDP’s continued commitment to Guyana. But transparency demands more than praise; it demands accuracy. Development partners strengthen democracy when they speak clearly about both progress and deficiencies. Domestic institutions strengthen democracy when they are willing to be accountable for the standards they claim to uphold. For these reasons, the APNU will pursue Parliamentary Questions, Motions, Committee inquiries, and disclosure requests to ensure that the full truth about GECOM’s communications systems, protocols, obligations, and performance is placed on the public record. These matters, including the discrepancy between UNDP’s claims and GECOM’s actual communication practices, will continue to inform our Parliamentary agenda with respect to GECOM. If a communications strategy truly existed, the Guyanese people should have seen it in action, not only in a UNDP statement.”
Among other things the UNDP said in its report that with its support, GECOM developed, adopted and implemented a comprehensive Communications Strategy, Branding Manual and Crisis Communication Protocol, ensuring timely and consistent public information. “A Media Code of Conduct and Media Policy were introduced, and over 100 journalists were trained on electoral legislation, procedures, and ethical reporting. UNDP further supported GECOM in enhancing inclusivity and accessibility by facilitating collaboration between organisations representing persons with disabilities and election officials. This ensured that polling day staff received specific guidance and training on how to effectively support persons with disabilities during the voting process. UNDP also supported the graphic design with integration of inclusive messaging across GECOM’s voter information and social media campaigns, reflecting Guyana’s cultural and racial diversity and ensuring visibility of persons with disabilities, youth, senior citizens, women, and men.”
Furthermore, UNDP said it supported GECOM in strengthening its engagement and dialogue with political parties, civil society, observer groups, and media. These forums provided platforms for open discussions and fact-based updates, helping to build trust in a sometimes-polarised environment. “Civic and voter education campaigns also reached citizens throughout Guyana, from hinterland villages to urban centres, using multiple media channels and introduced a feedback framework to capture and address common concerns and misinformation during community outreach. These tools enabled GECOM to deliver clear, fact-based information, counter misinformation, and engage proactively with the public and media. The establishment of a Media Centre on election day provided journalists and observers with a central hub for press briefings and real-time data updates.”
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Similar Articles
One thought on “Duncan slams UNDP’s “glowing” elections report – says GECOM’s real conduct tells a different story”
Blunt of the day
Sports
Features/Columnists
Sir. Ronald Sanders
The GHK Lall Column
Weekend Cartoon
I refuse to read ignorant diatribes. Awful GECOM committed dastardly acts by relegating the PNC to 3rd place in the last elections. It had nothing to do with people rejecting their policies and that they remembered the 2020 elections.
They elevated David Hinds, followed Rickford Burke and the other racists and found that the Guyanese people have moved on