GUYANA-EU electoral mission urges Guyana to adopt international anti-corruption conventions

0
400

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The European Union Election Observation Follow-up Mission Wednesday said there had been no movement on the issues of campaign financing as well as the use of state media as it urged Guyana to adopt international anti-corruption conventions to help deal with transparency in elections here.

However, EU Electoral Analyst, Alexander Matus, told a news conference that two of the priority recommendations regarding the publication of Statements of Polls had been implemented in full through provisions contained in the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act.

“We suggested that clear tabulation procedures, written procedures are implemented, and this has been taken care of by one of the provisions in the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act…and the second priority recommendation called for increased transparency in the response process,” Matus told reporters.

Chief of Mission, Javier Nart, said that the Representation of the People Act now provides for clear written procedures for the tabulation of election results and that the new measures will enhance the transparency of the tabulation process through the robust publication of Statements of Poll on the website of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

“Electoral reform is critically important to rebuild confidence in the integrity of the administration of general elections. The EU Delegation supports continued democracy and good governance in Guyana and wishes to support stakeholders in their efforts to promote such reform,” Nart said.

He said there was an urgent need to entrench the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), ratified and accepted by Guyana on April 16, 2008.

According to the convention, “each State Party shall also consider taking appropriate legislative and administrative measures, consistent with the objectives of this Convention and by the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to enhance transparency in the funding of candidatures for elected public office and, where applicable, the funding of political parties.”

Nart told the news conference that “very much important is that the administration is not overwhelmed by this influx of money that there could be a blessing or challenge,” adding, “It was a very, very and positive and open discussion, and we found that they (government) were in the best position.”

Nart said that in addition to the need for a limit on campaign financing as part of efforts to ensure a level playing field, the source of funds is a significant issue that must be addressed.

“Also very important is who is giving this money,” he said, pointing to the possibility of incumbent governments using public assets for campaign financing and abusing public media, as had been the case in the 2020 elections.

“Public media, in the end, became a kind of government media for the party in power,” he said.

The legal expert for the Mission, Anne Marlborough, said adopting those conventions into domestic law would allow aggrieved persons to challenge the electoral process on the grounds of fraud or campaign financing.

“They allow for restraints on campaign funding, they allow for campaign restraints and regulation of political finance because they do talk about it being in the interest of the electors, interest of the voters,” she said.

Matus said the follow-up mission’s report, which would be produced in another month, would include a “detailed assessment” of all 26 recommendations and their stages of implementation.

He told reporters that there are still two more years before Guyana’s general elections are constitutionally due, which could pave the way for legislative changes or administrative actions of various state institutions.

The Electoral Mission had, in its recommendations, underscored the need for an electoral framework to regulate campaign financing to allow for transparency, accountability, and even equality in the funding of political parties.

“Financing is critical because controlling financing and accountability is significant. When a party goes to an election with no limit to spending, it is like running with a Ferrari against someone on foot. Who is going to win? Of course, the Ferrari wins. So, we have to have an equal playing field, and so, the spending has to have a limit,” Nart reasoned.

The Mission had also lobbied for a legal and regulatory system to be put in place to transform the state-owned media into a genuine public service broadcaster.

“Secondly, the state assets. When you are in power, the possibility of taking public assets for the party happens. This is also important,” the Chief of Mission said while noting that in Guyana, there is a situation with public media has become government media for the party in power.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here