Georgetown: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter arrived in Guyana Friday in advance of the May 11 General and Regional elections. This is the Carter Center’s fourth election observation mission in Guyana. Carter is co-leading the Carter Center’s 100th election observation mission, which features a team of more than 50 observers and is co-led by Dames Audrey Glover of the United Kingdom and Billie Miller of Barbados. Representatives of the Carter Center have been in Guyana since April. They have conducted observations in all 10 of Guyana’s electoral districts and held meetings with a wide range of stakeholders, including political parties, the elections commission, civil society organisations and the judiciary. The Carter Center had said that “In most parts of the country, electoral preparations appear to be on course and in some areas, preparations are ahead of schedule. In some more remote areas, there are concerns about the status of logistical preparations.” The mission said that its observers heard many allegations of electoral offences being committed by supporters of both of the main political parties, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the coalition grouping of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change. “These were principally about the destruction of flags, banners and billboards. However, the team encountered very few formal complaints submitted to police and to the elections commission.” But the Carter Center said it is “deeply concerned about the provocative rhetoric in the campaign and condemns any attempt to sow fear and distrust among Guyana’s ethnic groups or to undermine confidence in its electoral process and institutions”. “As Election Day approaches, the Carter Center encourages all Guyanese to make their strongest efforts to promote a peaceful and transparent electoral process. These elections are an important opportunity for Guyanese to strengthen their commitment to one another and further consolidate their democracy,” said a statement from the elections observer mission.
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