GUYANA – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, Samuel Rudolph Insanally, assured the member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS) that his government will do everything in its power “to generate confidence in the electoral process so that it might be seen as fully free, fair, credible, and in conformity with the highest international standards.”
Addressing the OAS Permanent Council, Insanally noted that the OAS already has an advance electoral observation team in Guyana to ensure that adequate arrangements are in place for general elections, slated to take place in September. He thanked the member states that have provided support for this effort and urged others to contribute so that the mission can be expanded. “Full and impartial observation will undoubtedly lend greater credence to the electoral process and endow the results with greater legitimacy,” he said.
Insanally stressed that his government has provided full support to the Guyana Elections Commission to ensure that the elections are properly conducted and has sought to bring about consensus with all stakeholders – including political parties, electoral authorities and the Guyanese people – and to cooperate closely with the donor community.
“It is the view of the government of Guyana that the best way to preserve, strengthen and advance Guyana’s democracy and the democratic rights of the Guyanese people is for elections to take place on time, without delay, and with the free and full participation of our people,” Insanally said.
The Foreign Minister added that authorities have taken concrete steps to address the security situation and to thwart any politically motivated violence leading up to the elections. Following the assassination in April of Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, he said, the nation’s security forces “have been put on high alert to counter any further threat to public peace and security.”
Noting that Guyana was one of the last countries of the hemisphere to return to democracy, after the 1992 elections, Insanally stressed the importance of continuing to strengthen its democratic development. He pointed to “significant advances” Guyana has made in recent years in constitutional reforms as well as the reduction of the debt burden, improved social services and a reduction in poverty, but added that serious challenges remain. The country has suffered setbacks from natural disasters, the loss of certain preferential trade terms, rising fuel costs, crime and political instability, Insanally said.
Stressing the key role of the OAS in safeguarding democracy in the hemisphere, the Guyanese Foreign Minister said the Organization must also continue to give priority to the pursuit of integral development and the promotion of multidimensional security. These priorities form “a tripod on which the welfare of our countries rests,” Insanally told the Permanent Council meeting, chaired by Ambassador Henry Illes of Suriname.
