EOM/OAS ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION FINAL REPORT Organization of American States GENERAL AND REGIONAL GENERAL AND REGIONAL ELECTIONS, GUYANA 2011 GENERAL AND REGIONAL ELECTIONS, GUYANA ELECTIONS IN GUYANA NOVEMBER 28, 2011 Organization of American States Secretariat for Political Affairs Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation 17th Street & Constitution Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006 Electoral Observation Missions (EOMs) USA Organization of American States (OAS) ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION FINAL REPORT GENERAL AND REGIONAL ELECTIONS IN GUYANA NOVEMBER 28, 2011 General Secretariat Organization of American States José Miguel Insulza Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin Assistant Secretary General Kevin Casas-Zamora Secretary for Political Affairs Pablo Gutiérrez Director Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation OAS Cataloging-in-Publication Data Final report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission for the General and Regional Elections in the Republic of Guyana : November 28, 2011 / [Prepared by the Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation]. p. ; cm. (Electoral Observations in the Americas series, no. 77) ; (OEA/Ser.D/XX SG/DCOE/II.77) ; (OEA/Ser.G CP/ doc.4800/12) ISBN 978-0-8270-5930-6 1. Elections--Guyana. 2. Election monitoring--Guyana. I. Organization of American States. Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation. II. Series. III. Series: OEA/Ser.G CP/doc.4800/12. OEA/Ser.D/XX SG/DCOE/II.77 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................7 A. Electoral Observation Missions of the Organization of American States (OAS/EOM) .........................................................................................................................7 B. Organization and Nature of the Mission ..............................................................................7 C. Methodology to Incorporate a Gender Perspective .........................................................7 CHAPTER II. POLITICAL SYSTEM AND ELECTORAL ORGANIZATION ................9 A. Political Organization ............................................................................................................... 9 B. Legal Framework ...........................................................................................................................11 C. Electoral Authorities and Electoral Jurisdiction ........................................................... 11 D. Political Financing........................................................................................................................13 CHAPTER III. MISSION ACTIVITIES AND OBSERVATIONS.....................................................15 A. Pre-Electoral Phase ......................................................................................................................15 B. Election Day..................................................................................................................................... 19 C. Post-Electoral Process.................................................................................................................. 24 CHAPTER IV. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................27 CHAPTER V. RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................29 APPENDICES.............................................................................................................................................31 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On June 23, 2011 the Government of the Republic political contenders. While the voting process was generally of Guyana formally invited the Organization of American smooth, several late changes to the process, particularly States to observe the 2011 General and Regional Elections in changes in polling station locations, led to some voter Guyana. The Secretary General accepted the invitation, and confusion. Nonetheless, the significant efforts made by on November 28, 2011 the citizens of Guyana went to the the Guyanese Electoral Commission (GECOM) to execute polls to elect members of 10 regional councils, 65 National an overall inclusive and clean electoral process were in Assembly representatives and their President. This was the evidence on election day, as was the high level of training third time that the OAS had observed elections in Guyana, and dedication exhibited by GECOM staff in the polling following the deployment of missions in 2001 and 2006. centers. Following the close of the polls, the vote counting and transmission process lasted for three days before the The OAS Electoral Observation Mission deployed official declaration of results and was characterized by a by the General Secretariat consisted of 25 observers from a lack of uniform procedures. total of 14 countries: 12 member states (Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Regarding the results of the 2011 General Elections, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, the United States of America the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and Venezuela) and two observer nations (France and the won 48.6% of the total valid votes, ushering in a fifth United Kingdom). The Mission was installed in Guyana on consecutive term for the PPP/C government. Mr. Donald November 20th, and international observers were deployed Ramotar was elected president. The PPP/C obtained a the week prior to the elections. On Election Day, observers total of 32 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly while were present in nine of the country’s 10 administrative the combined opposition parties won the majority of seats, regions, with visits made to over 13% of polling stations. resulting in the first minority government in Guyanese The Mission maintained a 24 hour presence in the history. For the opposition, A Partnership for National tabulation center until the scheduled declaration of results, Unity (APNU) received 26 seats with 40.8% of the total vote, and departed Guyana on December 2nd, following the final the Alliance for Change (AFC) won 7 seats with 10.3%, and declaration. The United Force won 0.3% of the vote. In the pre-electoral period, the Mission observed The OAS Electoral Observation Mission would like that the campaign was characterized by a perception of to express its gratitude to the Governments of Argentina, limited differentiation between the state and the governing Chile, Serbia, the United Kingdom and the United States party in terms of access to media and campaign finance for of America along with Elections Canada for providing contributions to this EOM. 5 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION A. ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSIONS OF THE B. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF THE MISSION ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS/EOMS) In an exchange of correspondence beginning in June OAS Electoral Observation Missions (OAS/EOMs) 2011, the Government of the Republic of Guyana invited constitute a key instrument in the defense and promotion the Organization of American States to field an Electoral of democracy in the continent. They help guarantee the Observation Mission to observe the General and Regional integrity, impartiality, and accountability of numerous Elections due to take place in the fourth quarter of 2011. electoral processes and strengthen the credibility of The OAS responded positively to this request and set in democratic institutions in Member States. motion preparations for an Electoral Observation Mission to observe the final days of campaigning, the conduct of The presence of an OAS/EOM represents the the poll for the General Elections, the counting of ballots, solidarity and support of the Inter-American community and the immediate post-election process. Prior to Election towards the efforts undertaken by democratic institutions Day, the OAS Mission signed an Agreement of Privileges in states that organize and administer their own electoral and Immunities with the Government of Guyana as well as processes. OAS Missions promote the recognition of an Agreement on Observation Procedures with the Guyana political rights, particularly the right to suffrage, as the Elections Commission. This was the third OAS Electoral legitimate expression of the opportunity of every citizen Observation Mission in Guyana. to elect representatives and to be elected in an inclusive and free manner. OAS/EOMs also promote respect for the The EOM Core Group comprised specialists in the political will of the people as expressed through the ballot areas of electoral organization, logistics, political analysis, box. gender analysis and media, as well as a legal advisor. Regional coordinators and international observers were Since 2007, the OAS has refined its election deployed on November 26th to the following areas: Region observation methodology, based on key documents of 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Region 5, Region 6, Region the Inter-American and International Systems, such as 7, Region 9 and Region 10. The Mission left Guyana on the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the Declaration December 2, 2011. of Principles for International Election Observation and the Code of Conduct for International Election Observers. The Mission fielded 25 observers from 12 OAS The Inter-American Democratic Charter emphasizes the Member States (Antigua &