Owen Arthur urges ‘peaceful, inclusive’ election
The Head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission, former Barbadian Prime Minister, Owen Arthur yesterday called on all stakeholders to “demonstrate commitment to a peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive election”.
In an arrival statement, Arthur said he was greatly honoured to be asked to lead the mission and noted that it will be the seventh consecutive Guyana election which the Commonwealth would be observing here.
“Our mandate is to observe and evaluate the electoral process independently and impartially. We will assess the pre-election environment, polling day activities and the postelection period and consider the various factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole. We will then report on whether it has been conducted in line with Guyana’s national legislation, as well as the country’s regional and international commitments”, Arthur said.
He said that they arrived on Sunday and began their briefing programme yesterday. In the coming days, they will meet key stakeholders including the Guyana Elections
Commission, political parties, civil society, the media, the police and citizen and international observers.
The statement said that the Commonwealth Secretariat staff, who arrived in advance of the Group on February 19th, observed early voting of the disciplined forces on February 21st.
From Friday 28th February, observers will be deployed in small teams across the country to observe preparations ahead of polling day and meet with local stakeholders. On Election Day, the statement said that the Commonwealth team members will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and the results management processes.
The mission will issue an interim statement on its preliminary findings on 4 March 2020. A final report will then be prepared and submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and subsequently shared with “relevant” stakeholders and the public. The Group will depart Guyana on 9 March 2020.
“We are aware of the significance of these elections to the people of Guyana and we call on all stakeholders to demonstrate commitment to a peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive election”, Arthur said.
The Commonwealth team includes Lisa Shoman, former Foreign Minister and Tribunal Judge and Senior Counsel of Belize and fellow countrywoman, Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer.