Latest update September 18th, 2026 10:25 AM
‘We found no fault in this year’s elections’ – PSC says
(Kaieteur News) – The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has concluded that it found no fault in the conduct of the 2025 General and Regional Elections, according to its Observer Mission Report presented on Wednesday.
Chairman of the PSC, Gerald Gouveia Jr., announced the findings during a press conference at the commission’s headquarters on Waterloo Street, Georgetown. Delivering the executive summary, Gouveia said the PSC observed that the elections were conducted peacefully, were credible, and transpired smoothly. He reported that the commission saw no evidence of misuse of state resources, found no issues suggesting that the placement of voting booths compromised ballot secrecy, and observed no instances of voters being disenfranchised, issues that had been flagged by the European Union Election Observer Mission.
Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Gerald Gouveia Jr.,
“The claims circulating in the public domain concerning the voters’ list, ballot secrecy, and undue influence were largely political rhetoric. The PSC’s observation found no evidence to support these claims,” he stated.
The PSC also noted that the participation of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader, Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by the United States, had “no particular bearing on the democratic rights of the individual concerned,” and therefore did not influence the electoral process. Gouveia added that “the 2025 general and regional elections showcased Guyana’s democratic maturity and institutional resilience,” and he commended voters, GECOM, the joint services, political parties, both local and international observers, the media, and other stakeholders for contributing to a peaceful and transparent election.
While the PSC deemed the elections credible, Gouveia acknowledged areas for improvement. These include standardising voting booth layouts, improving physical accessibility at polling stations, refining GECOM’s public communication strategy, and enhancing the digital publication of Statements of Poll (SOPs). He also encouraged national discussions on modernizing campaign financing and introducing governance reforms to reduce administrative gridlock within GECOM.
Responding to questions about the EU’s observation regarding the alleged misuse of state resources, Gouveia said the PSC would not comment directly on the EU’s report, but reiterated that it found no evidence of such misuse affecting the election results. “Whilst we respect the EU’s participation in their observation mission here in Guyana, we don’t really comment on their observer report. They have their own reporting. However, what we have seen is that whilst there is an opportunity for dialog, and the private sector would definitely want to be part of that dialog, we haven’t seen any evidence of misuse of state resources that has a credible impact on the election’s result,” he said.
He emphasized the PSC’s interest in contributing to future dialogue on campaign financing to achieve international best practices. Addressing concerns about ballot box placement, he said that while the PSC found no evidence that booth layout affected ballot secrecy, there is room for improvement through standardization so voters know what to expect when entering polling stations. Gouveia also highlighted the need for improved accessibility for persons with disabilities, noting that although challenges existed, the PSC saw no evidence that voters were prevented from casting their ballots due to accessibility issues. He further recommended that GECOM engage stakeholders, including state media and private-sector representatives, in discussions aimed at enhancing transparency, improving communication, and ensuring the more efficient use of state resources. The PSC also encouraged efforts to better accommodate migrant workers and ensure their participation in future elections.
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