for Transparency in Elections
News Source Guyana Reports : As the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) prepares to set up 2,785 polling places nationwide for the upcoming elections, Nigel Hughes, the Presidential Candidate for the Alliance For Change (AFC), is advocating for the government to fund the deployment of polling agents from all political parties. He argues that this move would enhance the transparency of the electoral process.
During a recent press conference, Hughes expressed concern that, aside from the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), it would be nearly impossible for opposition parties to place agents at all polling locations. “If we are as wealthy as we are, we should say, look, political parties, the State will fund your polling agents in all of the polling places,” he stated. “At the end of the day, you want a result that is credible, one that the victor feels comfortable with and that the loser is prepared to concede.”
In addition to polling agents, the upcoming General and Regional Elections on September 1 will be monitored by international, regional, and local observers. The Carter Center and the European Union have already deployed observer missions to Guyana, while the Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are also set to field missions.
However, Hughes raised concerns about the ability of foreign missions to adequately observe elections in remote areas. He noted that many observers tend to focus on Region Four and Georgetown, potentially neglecting more isolated regions. “Are they going to be embedded in Chenapou? Are they going to be embedded in Chinoweing? Are they going to be embedded in Apoteri?” he asked, highlighting areas where Venezuelans have recently registered to vote.
He warned that without adequate oversight, elections could be susceptible to manipulation, particularly in hinterland regions with limited observer presence. “If you steal two votes per polling booth, you are already at two seats,” Hughes explained. “In the areas where you know the observers are not likely to attend, small-scale theft could lead to significant electoral outcomes.”
The upcoming elections will also be observed by representatives from the US Embassy, the British High Commission, the Canadian High Commission, and the Private Sector Commission (PSC), among other local and international bodies. As the election date approaches, the focus will be on ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process across all regions of Guyana.
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