A Commonwealth team, tasked with observing Guyana's 2025 general and regional elections, has urged Guyana to implement crucial recommendations aimed at enhancing the credibility and transparency of future elections.
An interim statement from the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) commended the peaceful environment before and during polling. It noted that election-related procedures were largely respected, as were calls for peace and national unity made by the President, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and leaders of other political parties, in the days leading up to the election.
Delivering the interim statement on behalf of the group, Mrs Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, Chairperson and Former Foreign Affairs Minister of Tonga, said:
“The Group noted with concern the very limited implementation of the recommendations of observer groups over the years. The Group encourages all political stakeholders to give priority to the establishment of a robust post-electoral domestic mechanism that may, in short order, produce the legislative and constitutional reform needed for the conduct of credible, transparent and inclusive elections.”
This is the eighth consecutive election that the Commonwealth has been invited to observe in Guyana since 1992.
The interim statement applauded the Guyanese government’s work on the harmonisation of legislation to update and clarify the legal framework for elections through the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, Act 25 of 2022, and the National Registration (Amendment) Act, Act 26 of 2022.
However, it urged the respective authorities to address the issue of mistrust concerning the Official List of Electors, the adoption of media codes of conduct in consultation with the media, as used in past elections, and the reform and regulation of campaign financing to promote fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Final election results have yet to be released by GECOM. Mrs Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, called on authorities to conduct the results announcement process with diligence and transparency. She said:
“We hope the peaceful tenor of the electoral process thus far will continue as we await official results. We call on all political parties to continue to encourage their candidates, supporters and other stakeholders to work for national unity, peace and solidarity.”
The Group is now finalising its final report, an independent assessment setting out its full findings on the entire electoral process, with detailed recommendations to further improve Guyana’s electoral process.
The final report will then be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Hon Shirley Botchwey and thereafter shared with all relevant stakeholders.
Related content
Commonwealth Observer Group begin work in Guyana, ahead of September poll
Read the Press Release, Commonwealth to observe Guyana’s 2025 general and regional elections
See the photos of Flickr
Media Contact
- Temitope Kalejaiye, Public Relations and Engagement Officer, Commonwealth Secretariat
- M: +447436032707 | Email
