Guyana’s current campaign financing laws outdated, not acceptable – Head of EU Observation Mission

– says time now for electoral reforms

By Vahnu Manikchand

Having presented a string of recommendations aimed at improving the electoral process in Guyana, Head of the European Union’s Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), Urmas Paet has joined mounting calls for the country to update its campaign financing laws.

The Observation Mission has returned to Guyana one year after being forced to leave the country at the height of what turned out to be a five-month-long political crisis, due to the COVID-19 pandemic last March.
During a press conference on Friday, Paet stated that the EOM’s return is not just to present their final report which includes some 26 recommendations but also to “kickstart” the process for electoral reforms, which they believe are essential to improving future elections.

Chief among those recommendations is for Guyana to “develop effective legislation to regulate political finance.”
According to the EU Mission Head, political financing is a controversial but important issue that will benefit the country in the future, if implemented.
“I don’t think it is acceptable that if you look at your present law [that] concerns political financing then it’s really outdated, it’s really old. The figures which are there are completely not adequate anymore, anyway. So, that refresh for this sphere is needed. And, of course, the more open, the clearer the rules for political financing will be, I guess it is clearly in longer run very beneficial for your society and clarity in your political system,” he noted.
Laws about campaign finance in Guyana are outlined in the Representation of the People Act. The provision sets a limit on expenses at US$250 per candidate.
Paet, who is a Member of the European Parliament, raised questions about the financing of political campaigns in Guyana.
“Do you know from where came the money for elections campaign from your main political parties? How big were the budgets for political campaign; how much money they spent for political campaign? Do you know it? At the same time, look at your legislation which are their limits for political campaign and then compare it to the reality… Is it clear for you, where the limit goes between the Government resources spent for elections campaigns and then pure political party money? As long as these questions are not adequately answered, there is space to develop [the campaign financing laws],” he asserted.
He further highlighted the importance of such legislation, noting that it outlines who are the supporters of political parties and thus prevents “non-political and hidden forces” from influencing Governments.
Paet believes that both legislative change and implementation are integral since “good laws without implementation is pointless.”
Moreover, the EU Mission Head pointed out that it is now the time for Guyana to embark on critically needed electoral reforms especially before the country holds another election.
“Now is the time for decisions and actions. For election reform to be effective, its implementation needs to begin well before the next elections are called. Inclusive and transparent reform processes help build confidence in elections and their results,” Paet said at Friday’s press conference.
He further noted that these changes are especially critical in order to avoid a reoccurrence of what happened after last year’s March 2 polls. He added that while he is optimistic of at least some of their recommendations being implemented, the final say will be up to Guyana and its people.
Since its return, the team has already met with President Dr Irfaan Ali, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir; Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, Retired Justice Claudette Singh; Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd, and Chief Justice Roxane George.
On Monday, the EU EOM will be holding a roundtable discussion with local stakeholders on their recommendations.
According to Deputy Chief Observer Alexander Matus, they believe there is a way forward to improve the elections process especially given the “positive” feedback from those officials they have met with over the past few days.
“We are optimistic after the first round of meeting with the key stakeholders and we do believe that there is a genuine interest in doing something ahead the next elections. So, in our positive way of thinking, we don’t expect any major roadblocks in that way and we do believe Monday’s discussion can actually bring more answers… where we can see what are the positions of the different stakeholders and how they are prepared to participate in the debate and what kind of reforms solutions they are able to support,” he noted.
Among the stakeholders invited to next week’s roundtable discussions are Office of the President, Government, National Assembly, Constitutional Commissions, political parties as well members of civil society. Several key stakeholders have already indicated their attendance.
Of the EU EOM’s 26 recommendations, eight are priority suggestions. Apart from political financing, recommendations are made to review and consolidate the fragmented election legislation; launch a consultation process to overhaul the composition and functioning of GECOM; foster transparency and accountability in online and offline campaigning; transform the State-owned media into a genuine public service broadcaster; adopt clear written procedures for transmission and tabulation of election results; accompany any declaration of results by simultaneous publication of detailed polling station results and digital copies of all Statements of Poll, and establish a comprehensive election dispute resolution system.