Elections can be “free, fair & transparent” if procedures are followed at all poll stations – US Ambassador

United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, believes that the upcoming General and Regional Elections in Guyana on September 1 could be free, fair and transparent if all of the established protocols and procedures are followed across the country.
Ambassador Theriot made these remarks during an interview with reporters on the side-lines of an event on Wednesday after she was asked whether she is satisfied with the ongoing preparations for the upcoming polls.
The US diplomat pointed out that while they are aware of concerns expressed by opposition political parties and other stakeholders, the mechanisms in place by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) could deliver free, fair and transparent 2025 elections.

“We meet regularly with GECOM – the CEO (Chief Elections Officer), the Commissioners, the Chairperson (Retired Justice, Claudette Singh) – and as they’ve described the process, we feel that this can be a free, fair and transparent elections but all of the procedures just simply have to be followed at every polling stations in the country, and that is why having those international observers there, having those party observers there is going to be very instrumental in that,” Ambassador Theriot stated.
She told reporters that the US will be collaborating with other observation missions – international, regional and local – to ensure that their work is not redundant and that they have a presence at all the polling stations across the county on election day.
According to the US diplomat, “…the strengthening of Guyana’s democracy is incredibly important to the United States.”
The US, along with the other members of the ABCE community – the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union – had played a crucial role in the 2020 elections in ensuring Guyana’s democracy was not derailed and had even issued visa sanctions on top officials in the country who were involved in attempts to subvert the March 2, 2020 elections.
Those rigging attempts by the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Government to stay in power had resulted in a five-month political deadlock before the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration was finally declared the winner and sworn in to office on August 2, 2020.
The ABCE diplomatic missions in Guyana were at the time vocal in their calls for democracy to prevail and for the will of the Guyanese people to be respected.
Heading into the 2025 polls, these countries have already signalled their intention to field election observer missions (EOM) to Guyana to monitor the activities here.
In addition to working along with the ABCE missions, the US is also partially funding the Organisation of American States (OAS) Election Observer Mission and is also lending support to the US-based Carter Centre Observer Mission, which is already in Guyana.
The US Government will also be providing election security training for the Guyana Police Force and is also supporting technical assistance to GECOM.
Fair and credible
Only last month, President Irfaan Ali had lauded the US Government’s continued support in ensuring that Guyana has a fair and credible electoral process.
“As Guyana prepares for its upcoming General and Regional Elections in September, we welcome the continued support of United States in ensuring a fair, transparent and credible electoral process, as was the case with your support eventually after the 2020 elections,” the Head of State said at a reception hosted by the US Embassy in Georgetown to celebrate America’s 249th Independence anniversary on June 27.
the Head of State said at a reception hosted by the US Embassy in Georgetown to celebrate America’s 249th Independence anniversary on June 27.
Already, the Carter Centre has deployed an election observation mission to Guyana ahead of the September 1 elections. The Centre – founded by the late former United States President, Jimmy Carter – said its four-member core team comprised electoral experts from the US, Georgia, and the UK. They will be joined by additional electoral specialists and short-term observers closer to election day.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has already signed an agreement with GECOM to facilitate its Elections Observation Mission (EUEOM).
Additionally, Canada has also signalled its intention to once again play its part in ensuring the integrity of the 2025 polls.
“…With the elections coming up in Guyana on September 1, Canada will work with the Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities. We will work with the Organization of American States, and we will work with the Carter Center to ensure accessibility, transparency, and fairness because a strong democracy makes for a strong nation,” Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Sébastien Sigouin, declared at the Canada Day celebration in Georgetown on June 25.
The governing PPP/C administration has already indicated that it will invite as many of the reputable international observer missions to monitor the upcoming elections.
Only on Tuesday evening, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, S.C., urged citizens to stay alert and work together to safeguard the country’s democracy. Reflecting on the events that followed the March 2020 elections, Nandlall says the PPP/C is preparing for any eventualities to arise at the upcoming polls.
“We can’t rule out anything, we can’t rule out the possibility of litigation or several litigations which may or may not travel all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Once the electoral miscreants are around, anything is possible,” he said during Tuesday night’s edition of ‘Issues in the News.’
He added, “The usual suspects are still around. Those who attempted to rig the elections are still around and contesting these elections. Up to now, we have not heard either an admission of guilt or a word of repent or contrition but what we have heard is complete denial and worse yet, victimhood… There is a likelihood that we can have attempts at recurrence and that is why we have to remain vigilant. The same perpetrators are still around.”