2025 Elections: ERC, Carter Center discuss strategy to safeguard unity, ensure credible polls

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) met Thursday with representatives of The Carter Center to engage in discussions on matters relating to the 2025 General and Regional Elections in Guyana.
In its press release, the ERC noted that the Carter Center was represented by its Country Director, Mr Jason Calder; Deputy Director, Mr Nicholas Jahr; and Ms Mariam Tabatadze.

In attendance on behalf of the ERC were Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack; Commissioners Chandrowtie Sarran, Alphonso Porter, Norris Witter, Neaz Subhan, and Ashton Simon; and Chief Executive Officer Gomin Camacho.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to share their respective plans and activities in support of a peaceful and credible electoral process.
The ERC outlined its key initiatives for the election period, which include the planned signing of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties, monitoring of campaign activities, and observation on Election Day.
The ERC remains committed to promoting unity and respect during the elections and looks forward to continued engagement with both local and international stakeholders.
In June, the Carter Center announced that it had launched an international election observation mission to Guyana in advance of the country’s general and regional elections scheduled for Sept. 1.
According to the Centre, it was invited to observe this year’s elections by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
A four-person core team of experts began arriving in Georgetown on June 30 from the United States, Georgia, and the United Kingdom. Additional electoral experts and observers will join them closer to election day, it noted.
“We look forward to engaging with Guyanese stakeholders across the political spectrum and civil society to provide an independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process. We hope our observation and reporting will help the Guyanese people assess the credibility of the elections while providing useful recommendations for reform and encouraging transparency,” Calder had said.
David Carroll, director of the Carter Center’s Democracy Program, stated, “The Carter Center has had a long-standing commitment to democracy in Guyana, and we are honoured to launch this international election observation mission in support of the electoral process.”
The Carter Center’s election observation work is conducted in accordance with the 2005 Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and makes assessments based on relevant parts of national legal frameworks, as well as regional and international obligations for democratic elections. Since 1992, the Centre has worked in Guyana to strengthen democracy, support civil society, encourage sustainable development, and reinforce the rule of law.
The Carter Center has organised more than 125 election observation missions in 100 countries, including in Guyana in 1992, 2001, 2006, 2015, and 2020.