DOCSLIB.ORG

2015 General and Regional Elections in Guyana

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2015 General and Regional Elections in Guyana ELECTION REPORT ✩ 2015 General and Regional Elections in Guyana Final Report ELECTION REPORT ✩ 2015 General and Regional Elections in Guyana Final Report One Copenhill 453 Freedom Parkway Atlanta, GA 30307 (404) 420-5100 www.cartercenter.org Source: United States Central Intelligence Agency. Guyana. [Washington, D.C.: Central Intelligence Agency, 1991] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2005631591/. (Accessed February 17, 2017.) Contents Foreword.....................................4 Election Day .................................43 Executive Summary...........................5 Opening ..................................44 Recommendations .........................7 Polling ...................................44 The Carter Center in Guyana .................10 Postelection Period ..........................46 Timeline ..................................10 Vote Counting and Tabulation. .46 Election Observation Methodology...........13 Poll Closing and Counting. .46 Historical and Political Background...........16 Recounts .................................49 Parties Contesting the 2015 Elections ........17 Election Results. .50 Electoral Institutions and the Framework Electoral Dispute Resolution ................51 for the Legislative Elections ..................20 Postelection Environment and Observations ..53 Legal Framework ..........................20 Conclusions and Recommendations ..........56 Electoral Law. .21 To the Parliament of Guyana ................56 Candidacy and Campaigning ...............23 To the Government of Guyana ..............58 Campaign Finance .........................24 To the Guyana Elections Commission ........58 The Right to Vote ..........................25 Appendices..................................60 Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation ..28 Appendix A: Acknowledgments .............60 Election Management ......................29 Appendix B: The Carter Center Pre-election Period ..........................31 Delegation and Staff .......................62 Voter Registration .........................31 Appendix C: Terms and Abbreviations .......64 Voter Education ...........................33 Appendix D: Statements ....................65 Advance Polls .............................34 Appendix E: Table of Recommendations Candidates, Parties, and Campaigns .........34 From Previous Missions .................. 105 The Media. .37 Appendix F: Deployment Plan ............ 109 Appendix G: Statement by Former President Civil Society/Citizen Observers . .38 Donald Ramotar on May 16 .............. 110 Electoral Dispute Resolution . .40 Appendix H: Letters of Invitation .......... 112 Electoral Offenses .........................41 Appendix I: Checklists .................... 119 Election-Related Violence During the Appendix J: Report by Former U.S. President Pre-election Period ........................42 Jimmy Carter on Trip to Guyana ........... 140 Security ..................................42 Foreword The 2015 general and regional elections in to Guyana’s winner-take-all governance system, Guyana were early elections, called by the the Center reduced its role in Guyana in 2004. president following three years of contentious However, in light of the suspension of Parliament governance after the 2011 polls. In the 2011 elec- and the anticipated close electoral contest, we tions, the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/ responded positively to the government’s invita- Civic (PPP/C) received the most votes of any tion to observe the elections of May 11, 2015. The party but received one seat less in the Parliament 2015 elections represented a milestone for The than the two opposition parties together, resulting Carter Center. These were the 100th elections in a minority government under the PPP/C. observed by The Carter Center. That our 100th Despite hope that this unprecedented split of election would take place in Guyana, a country power between the executive and legislative with which the Center has had a special relation- branches would foster compromise, the govern- ship, seemed appropriate. ment and opposition failed to find many areas of Our fourth observation mission to Guyana constructive engagement. reflected our ongoing interest in the country’s In 2014, the stalemate came to a head when democratic consolidation and our desire for her the opposition presented legislation for a no- people to live together in peace and security. With confidence vote in the government, in response this in mind, we maintain our previous recom- to which the president suspended Parliament, mendations that additional reforms to Guyana’s pushing the country into a crisis of governance. election laws and constitution are necessary to The president announced new elections in January achieve more inclusivity and accountability in 2015 with the intention of securing a renewed Guyana’s system of governance. mandate and a clear majority. The opposition was I also believe that Guyana’s leaders must an unprecedented alliance between A Partnership encourage healing and reconciliation among their for National Unity (a coalition of multiple people and lead by example. The victorious coali- organizations and parties) and the Alliance tion committed to these ideals in their campaign, for Change party, which joined together in an and I hope that all Guyanese will work together to attempt to unseat the 23-year incumbent. realize these goals and help develop their country’s The Carter Center has monitored three vast potential. previous elections in Guyana in 1992, 2001, and 2006 and engaged heavily in the country’s democratic consolidation and development following the transitional elections of 1992. Concerned about lack of progress by the political Jimmy Carter elite to foster compromise and find an alternative 39th President of the United States of America 4 Executive Summary The 2011 elections in Guyana resulted in the acute anxiety and suspicion within the populace. ruling party winning the presidency but narrowly Ethnic mobilization played a major role in the losing a majority of seats in Parliament. The campaign, although moderated somewhat by years that followed were characterized by political the opposition coalition’s built-in need to reach gridlock and failures of governance, and they across traditional ethnic lines. The PPP/C filed an culminated in a motion of “no confidence” against election petition challenging the validity of the President Ramotar (tabled by opposition parties results that is still pending at the time of writing in August 2014), the proroguing of Parliament in of this report1 and refused participation in the November 2014, the dissolution of Parliament in first sittings of the National Assembly. Overall, February 2015, and a call for elections. while these elections represent a step forward in Guyana’s May 15, 2015, general and regional Guyana’s democratic development, there is much elections marked the country’s second democratic work to be done to ensure governance is inclusive transfer of power from one party to another and elections become more routine and less trau- in the Anglophone Caribbean nation’s post- matic to the nation. independence history. The 2015 polls also marked several other significant milestones for the nation, including a turnout of 72 percent when Overall, while these elections represent a step more Guyanese voted than in any other election in the country’s history. Although Guyana has forward in Guyana’s democratic development, there previously experienced close elections, 2015 was the closest election to date, with a coalition of is much work to be done to ensure governance is A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and inclusive and elections become more routine and Alliance for Change (AFC) receiving 50.3 percent of the 412,012 valid votes cast compared to the less traumatic to the nation. PPP/C’s 49.2 percent. Only 4,506 votes separated the winner from the loser. This election also saw the first coalition slate win a national election, The Carter Center team in Guyana was led perhaps harboring a future of coalition politics by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Dame in a country that has struggled with the zero-sum Audrey Glover of the United Kingdom, and nature of its winner-take-all system. Dame Billie Miller of Barbados. Six medium- Despite these distinctions, the 2015 elections term observers from six countries were deployed repeated many familiar patterns of the past. Election results, both preliminary and final, took longer to be released than anticipated, fueling 1 This report was finalized in July 2016. 5 Carter Center observers and staff on this mission had the privilege The Carter Center of working on the Center’s 100th election observation. throughout the country in advance of election day allegations of provocative confrontations between to assess election preparations. On election day, ruling party and opposition supporters swirled 53 observers from 26 countries visited 297 polling throughout election day. On closer inspection by stations (or 13 percent of total stations) in all 10 international observers, most issues, with a few regions to observe voting, counting, tabulation, exceptions, turned out to be largely unfounded and the declaration of results. The Carter Center or easily explained. Despite such attempts to sow remained in Guyana to observe the postelection discord, Guyanese generally remained calm and environment. cast their ballots without incidents or problems. On election day, Guyanese citizens turned out At 98 percent
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Proceedings and Debates of the National Assembly of the First
    PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST SESSION (2006-2011) OF THE NINTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA HELD IN THE PARLIAMENT CHAMBER, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, BRICKDAM, GEORGETOWN 159TH Sitting Thursday, 21ST July, 2011 The Assembly convened at 3.06 p.m. Prayers [Mdm. Deputy Speaker in the Chair] ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER Condolence to Minister Jennifer Westford on the death of her father Mdm. Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I was informed that the Father of the Hon. Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer R. A. Westford, MP, died yesterday afternoon at the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital after a brief illness. On behalf of the Members of the Assembly, and on myself, I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Dr. Westford, her mother, and the other children of the late Mr. Reginald Westford. The funeral will be held at the Merriman’s Funeral Home tomorrow, Friday, 22nd July; viewing will be from 12 noon followed by a funeral service at 1.00 p.m. 57th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference Hon. Members, I also wish to inform you that the Speaker of the National Assembly, yours truly the Deputy Speaker, Ms. Bibi Shadick, the Rev. Dr. Kwame Gilbert and Mr. Sherlock Isaacs will 1 be attending the 57th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference which is being held in London, UK, from 21st to 28th July, 2011. The Speaker has left this morning and the rest of the delegation will be leaving on Saturday 23rd July, 2011. I will therefore, as you see, be presiding at today’s sitting.
    [Show full text]
  • PROCLAMATION SUMMONING the SESSION of PARLIAMENT the Clerk: Hon
    PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST SESSION (2012) OF THE TENTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA HELD IN THE PARLIAMENT CHAMBER, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, BRICKDAM, GEORGETOWN 1ST Sitting Thursday, 12TH January, 2012 Assembly convened at 2.11 p.m. PROCLAMATION SUMMONING THE SESSION OF PARLIAMENT The Clerk: Hon. Members, it is now time for the first session of the Tenth Parliament to begin in accordance with the Proclamation which was made by the President and which, for the record, I shall now read: “Proclamation GUYANA No. 1 of 2012 Seal No. 1 of 2012 By the President of the Republic of Guyana. D. R. Ramotar, President WHEREAS by Proclamation dated 27th day of September, 2011, issued under article 70 (2) of the Constitution, the Ninth Parliament of Guyana was dissolved on 27th day of September, 2011; AND WHEREAS, it is provided by article 69 (1) of the Constitution that each session of Parliament shall be held at the place within Guyana and shall begin at the time, that the President shall appoint by proclamation; NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of article 69 (1) of the Constitution, I do hereby appoint the Parliament Chamber, Public Buildings, Georgetown, Guyana as the place where a session of the Tenth Parliament shall be held and 2 o’clock in the afternoon on 12th January, 2012, as the time when such session shall begin. Given under my hand and the seal of the Republic of Guyana, at the Office of the President, Georgetown, Guyana this 9th day of January, Two 1 Thousand and Twelve in the Forty Second year of the Republic.
    [Show full text]
  • Guyana: an Overview
    Updated March 10, 2020 Guyana: An Overview Located on the north coast of South America, English- system from independence until the early 1990s; the party speaking Guyana has characteristics common of a traditionally has had an Afro-Guyanese base of support. In Caribbean nation because of its British colonial heritage— contrast, the AFC identifies as a multiracial party. the country achieved independence from Britain in 1966. Guyana participates in Caribbean regional organizations The opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), and forums, and its capital of Georgetown serves as led by former President Bharrat Jagdeo (1999-2011), has 32 headquarters for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a seats in the National Assembly. Traditionally supported by regional integration organization. Indo-Guyanese, the PPP/C governed Guyana from 1992 until its defeat in the 2015 elections. Current congressional interest in Guyana is focused on the conduct of the March 2, 2020, elections. Some Members of Congress have expressed deep concern about allegations of Guyana at a Glance potential electoral fraud and have called on the Guyana Population: 782,000 (2018, IMF est.) Elections Commission (GECOM) to not declare a winner Ethnic groups: Indo-Guyanese, or those of East Indian until the completion of a credible vote tabulation process. heritage, almost 40%; Afro-Guyanese, almost 30%; mixed, 20%; Amerindian, almost 11% (2012, CIA est.) Figure 1. Map of Guyana Area: 83,000 square miles, about the size of Idaho GDP: $3.9 billion (current prices, 2018, IMF est.) Real GDP Growth: 4.1% (2018 est.); 4.4% (2019 est.) (IMF) Per Capita GDP: $4,984 (2018, IMF est.) Life Expectancy: 69.6 years (2017, WB) Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); World Bank (WB).
    [Show full text]
  • India Guyana Bilateral Relation
    India-Guyana Bilateral Relations During the colonial period, Guyana's economy was focused on plantation agriculture, which initially depended on slave labour. Guyana saw major slave rebellions in 1763 and again in 1823.Great Britain passed the Slavery Abolition Act in British Parliament that abolished slavery in most British colonies, freeing more than 800,000 enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and South Africa. British Guiana became a Crown colony in 1928, and in 1953 it was granted home rule. In 1950, Mr. Cheddi Jagan, who was Indian-Guyanese, and Mr. Forbes Burnham, who was Afro-Guyanese, created the colony's first political party, the Progressive People's Party (PPP), which was dedicated to gaining the colony's independence. In the 1953 elections, Mr. Cheddi Jagan was elected chief minister. Mr. Cheddi Jagan of the PPP and Mr. Forbes Burnham of the PNC were to dominate Guyana politics for decades to come. In 1961, Britain granted the colony autonomy, and Mr. Cheddi Jagan became Prime Minister (1961–1964). In 1964, Burnham succeeded Jagan as Prime Minister, a position he retained after the country gained full independence on May 26, 1966. With independence, the country returned to its traditional name, Guyana. Mr. Burnham ruled Guyana until his death in 1985 (from 1980 to 1985, after a change in the constitution, he served as president). Mr. Desmond Hoyte of the PNC became president in 1985, but in 1992 the PPP reemerged, winning a majority in the general election. Mr. Cheddi Jagan became President, and succeeded in reviving the economy. After his death in 1997, his wife, Janet Jagan, was elected President.
    [Show full text]
  • NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 54 WHEREAS President
    • NINTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYNA FIRST SESSION (2006-2008) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 54 WHEREAS President Bharrat Jagdeo met on February 19 and 20 with a broad cross-section of representatives from the religious community, business sector, the labour io movement, women, Amerindian, and other civil society bodies to discuss the recent escalation of crime, and from that engagement a joint statement was issued which called for: "1. Commit their full and unqualified support of the joint services in confronting crime in our country and in securing the safety of our citizens under the law, and; 2. Work in collaboration with the Government and all of the parliamentary political parties to jointly review the national security plan for its urgent and comprehensive implementation with the ultimate goal of cementing inclusive democracy, peace and justice in our country; 3. Initiate and support confidence building measures in the society at large 4. and amongst communities and organizations, in order to continue to move the country forward; 4. Call on all political parties to seek in good faith a unified position on law and order and public safety." (A copy attached at Appendix A); /...2 AND WHEREAS President Jagdeo also met on February 19 with the leaders of the five parliamentary political parties to discuss the current crime situation, and following that meeting a joint statement was issued calling for: "1. Unequivocally condemn crime in all its forms especially the recent Lusignan and Bartica massacres; 2. Commit to work together in support of the Joint Services as they fight crime professionally and within the confines of the law; 3.
    [Show full text]
  • 1413976* A/Hrc/Emrip/2014/4
    United Nations A/HRC/EMRIP/2014/4 General Assembly Distr.: General 28 April 2014 Original: English Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Seventh session 7-11 July 2014 Item 7 of the provisional agenda United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Final summary of responses to the questionnaire seeking the views of States and indigenous peoples on best practices regarding possible appropriate measures and implementation strategies to attain the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Report of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Summary The present report contains a summary of responses from States and indigenous peoples to the questionnaires seeking their views on best practices regarding possible appropriate measures and implementation strategies to attain the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as requested by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 24/10. GE.14-13976 *1413976* A/HRC/EMRIP/2014/4 Contents Paragraphs Page I. Introduction............................................................................................................. 1–6 3 II. State responses........................................................................................................ 7-106 4 A. National implementation strategies ................................................................ 8-15 4 B. Legal, policy or other measures adopted especially to implement the rights in the Declaration ................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Judgment of 18 December 2020
    18 DECEMBER 2020 JUDGMENT ARBITRAL AWARD OF 3 OCTOBER 1899 (GUYANA v. VENEZUELA) ___________ SENTENCE ARBITRALE DU 3 OCTOBRE 1899 (GUYANA c. VENEZUELA) 18 DÉCEMBRE 2020 ARRÊT TABLE OF CONTENTS Paragraphs CHRONOLOGY OF THE PROCEDURE 1-22 I. INTRODUCTION 23-28 II. HISTORICAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND 29-60 A. The Washington Treaty and the 1899 Award 31-34 B. Venezuela’s repudiation of the 1899 Award and the search for a settlement of the dispute 35-39 C. The signing of the 1966 Geneva Agreement 40-44 D. The implementation of the Geneva Agreement 45-60 1. The Mixed Commission (1966-1970) 45-47 2. The 1970 Protocol of Port of Spain and the moratorium put in place 48-53 3. From the good offices process (1990-2014 and 2017) to the seisin of the Court 54-60 III. INTERPRETATION OF THE GENEVA AGREEMENT 61-101 A. The “controversy” under the Geneva Agreement 64-66 B. Whether the Parties gave their consent to the judicial settlement of the controversy under Article IV, paragraph 2, of the Geneva Agreement 67-88 1. Whether the decision of the Secretary-General has a binding character 68-78 2. Whether the Parties consented to the choice by the Secretary-General of judicial settlement 79-88 C. Whether the consent given by the Parties to the judicial settlement of their controversy under Article IV, paragraph 2, of the Geneva Agreement is subject to any conditions 89-100 IV. JURISDICTION OF THE COURT 102-115 A. The conformity of the decision of the Secretary-General of 30 January 2018 with Article IV, paragraph 2, of the Geneva Agreement 103-109 B.
    [Show full text]
  • Constitutional Reform in the English-Speaking Caribbean: Challenges and Prospects
    Constitutional Reform in the English-Speaking Caribbean: Challenges and Prospects A report prepared for the Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum January 2011 The Constitutional Design Group Principals Zachary Elkins | [email protected] Tom Ginsburg | [email protected] Lead Research Associate Justin Blount | [email protected] The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect those of CPPF or the Social Science Research Council. Constitutional Reform in the ESC p. 2 CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3 Historical Perspectives on Constitutional Reform in the ESC ................................................. 4 Decolonization and the Independece Constitutions ............................................................... 4 The Rise and Fall of the West Indies Federation ................................................................... 5 Characteristics of ESC Constitutions ......................................................................................... 6 Some General Notes on the Nature of ESC Constitutional Texts ......................................... 7 Executives, Legislatures, and the Judiciary ........................................................................... 8 Fidelity to the Westminster Parliamentary System ........................................................... 8 The Judiciary .....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Memorandum of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on The
    Memorandum of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the Application filed before the International Court of Justice by the Cooperative of Guyana on March 29th, 2018 ANNEX Table of Contents I. Venezuela’s territorial claim and process of decolonization of the British Guyana, 1961-1965 ................................................................... 3 II. London Conference, December 9th-10th, 1965………………………15 III. Geneva Conference, February 16th-17th, 1966………………………20 IV. Intervention of Minister Iribarren Borges on the Geneva Agreement at the National Congress, March 17th, 1966……………………………25 V. The recognition of Guyana by Venezuela, May 1966 ........................ 37 VI. Mixed Commission, 1966-1970 .......................................................... 41 VII. The Protocol of Port of Spain, 1970-1982 .......................................... 49 VIII. Reactivation of the Geneva Agreement: election of means of settlement by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, 1982-198371 IX. The choice of Good Offices, 1983-1989 ............................................. 83 X. The process of Good Offices, 1989-2014 ........................................... 87 XI. Work Plan Proposal: Process of good offices in the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, 2013 ............................................. 116 XII. Events leading to the communiqué of the UN Secretary-General of January 30th, 2018 (2014-2018) ....................................................... 118 2 I. Venezuela’s territorial claim and Process of decolonization
    [Show full text]
  • Leadership and Policy Studies Global Leaders: Defining
    LEADERSHIP AND POLICY STUDIES GLOBAL LEADERS: DEFINING RELEVANT LEADERSHIP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY BRADLEY STEVEN GRAY Dissertation under the direction of Professor Robert L. Crowson After an age of leadership defined by the norms and demands of an industrial era, the forces of globalization at the beginning of the 21st century, primarily ushered in by logarithmic advances of technology, have created the demand for leadership, identified in this phenomenological study as “global leadership.” Based upon demand identifiers describing the realities of the current stage(s) of globalization–bypass, simultaneity, mobility, pluralism, change, and integration–six leadership capacities were extrapolated to establish criteria upon which to analyze an effective leader in this context. Foundational is a distinction between “competencies” and “capacities” in global leadership. Where competencies are skill and task based with limited ability to fulfill adaptive work, capacities are skills and abilities that enable one to regenerate growth based on adaptive challenges, and thus innovation. The six global leader capacities forming the filter for analysis are the capacity for self-transformation, capacity of the contextual self, capacity for omnicompetence, capacity for reframing the gifts of leadership, capacity for ethnorelativism, and the capacity for transcendence. In the case of the global leader, these six capacities engage simultaneously to create the synergistic phenomenon. Two archetypal cases are considered. Findings identify that global leaders are found throughout societies although few of them are noticed because the infrastructure of leadership development, including the education systems, are geared to develop leaders for industrial model work. Global leaders are not necessarily international leaders, and it is not a contradiction for a global leader not to lead in an international context.
    [Show full text]
  • Guyana Constitution No Confidence Motion
    Guyana Constitution No Confidence Motion sighWestleigh very see. fabricates Solved traitorously. Ismail rope, Self-neglecting his inadequacies Reginald mythicized outcropped reacclimatize her gangrel conceitedly. so episodically that Haven Guyanese and the international community that the Dec. Constitution of confidence motion is very clear it would allow you that guyana constitution no confidence motion of the society. One voice and my children on shall have also post comments, say that stormed the next dissolution and shall be an obscure constitutional procedure for? Impeachment managers used the final day of their opening arguments to hammer home the case against Trump. Partly cloudy in those evening. GUYANA court rules no confidence motion valid News74. Marine Corps Times asked for the same motion of was call to file a Freedom of. Save as otherwise benefit by this Constitution, shall add the gesture to be passed. This, Justice Adrian Justice Saunders, Dr. Parliament upon their conscience even meet that were comprised in force of your questions and to constitute offices. Lucia and the St. GECOM and american will then well a proclamation. It is bottom line for guyana, determine whether he voted would not. In a statement today the CCJ says according to Guyana's Constitution the Cabinet should recover if defeated by net no confidence vote The CCJ. Assembly that constitutional and manage access to constitute a constitution and implementation of confidence in an officer, given that he could cause him of argument. PPP leaders believe rightly or wrongly that the United States has been willing to overlook corruption and undemocratic practices in the Granger government, the comment illustrates the unusual amount of public anger the Ohu case is garnering.
    [Show full text]
  • Guyana: an Overview
    Updated April 17, 2020 Guyana: An Overview Located on the north coast of South America, English- President David Granger leads a coalition that narrowly speaking Guyana has characteristics of a Caribbean nation won in 2015, with 33 of 65 seats in the unicameral National because of its British colonial heritage (the country Assembly. The coalition consists of Granger’s A achieved independence from Britain in 1966). Guyana Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for participates in Caribbean regional organizations and Change (AFC), led by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. forums, and its capital of Georgetown serves as The largest party in the APNU is the People’s National headquarters for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a Congress Reform (PNCR), which dominated the political regional integration organization. system from independence until the early 1990s; the party traditionally has had an Afro-Guyanese base of support. In Guyana currently is facing two enormous challenges—a contrast, the AFC identifies as a multiracial party. political crisis concerning the conduct of the March 2, 2020, elections, and a public health threat due to the Figure 1. Map of Guyana Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. U.S. officials and some Members of Congress have expressed deep concern about credible allegations of electoral fraud. On April 15, 2020, an Organization of American States (OAS) election observation mission maintained that the political crisis is not intractable and urged the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ensure that procedures for a planned recount are transparent and consistent. With regard to COVID-19, as of April 16, 2020, Guyana reported 6 deaths and 48 confirmed cases, although testing to date has been limited.
    [Show full text]