International Day of Democracy: ABCE countries recommit support for continued building of strong democratic system in Guyana

The ABCE countries have recommitted to support Guyana in building a strong and resilient democracy in which all its people have a role to play.
This message was relayed in a joint statement from the Ambassador of the United States of America, Sarah-Ann Lynch; the British High Commissioner, Jane Miller, OBE; Canadian High Commissioner, Mark Berman, and Ambassador of the European Union, René van Nes, as they commemorate the 15th anniversary of the International Day of Democracy, which is being observed today around the world.
“…on this International Day of Democracy, we?resolve to support the people of Guyana to continue building a democratic system that is strong, resilient, and guarantees all Guyanese have a voice and role to play as the country moves forward at this unique time in its history,” the missive detailed .
According to the diplomats, this 15th anniversary of International Day of Democracy is being observed as they reaffirm the cornerstones of democracy including liberty, equality, inclusivity, freedom of religion and belief, speech and assembly, the rule of law, and the right to vote.

“While free, fair and inclusive elections are critical, democracies also help safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms and work to strengthen political, economic, and social rights. And they do so openly, to the benefit of all. When these principles are placed at the centre of foreign policy frameworks, they connect us as global citizens and help nations achieve and sustain peace and stability around the world,” the ABCE envoys further stated.
They further acknowledge that democracy, especially as a form of government, was not without its challenges. This, according to the Western diplomats, requires continuous reflection and improvement.
To tackle the critical issues facing the world today, the ABCE diplomats went on to outline that democracies need to be constantly vigilant in strengthening their institutions and processes, actively engaging civil society, supporting press freedom, ensuring equity and fairness, respect for diversity, and holding to account those who commit abuses and foster corrupt practices.
“These cherished democratic values are fragile, and sadly, not all global citizens enjoy the rights that stem from these values. It is a stark reminder that there is still work to be done to uphold democratic principles and renew the spirit of democracy across the globe,” the joint missive stated.
These ABCE countries had played a major role in ensuring that democracy prevailed in Guyana following the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections during which there were blatant attempts to rig the results thus forcing the country into a five-month political and electoral impasse.
The four nations were vocal in their calls for democracy to prevail in Guyana and for the will of the Guyanese people to be respected after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition refused to concede defeat at the March 2 polls and demit office.
In fact, even after a national recount confirmed the People’s Progressive Party/Civic electoral victory, the David Granger-led coalition continued with its delay tactics by moving to the courts.
The Western diplomats had deemed the tabulation process for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – Guyana’s largest voting district – as lacking transparency and credibility. This was after attempts were made by former embattled Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, along with others, to inflate the votes in favour of the then coalition Administration.
As the electoral impasse continued months after the March polls, the ABCE diplomatic community continued mounting pressure on the APNU/AFC to concede defeat, warning of Guyana facing isolation and consequences.
In fact, the United States had even gone ahead to impose visa sanctions against several Government and electoral officials, and their immediate family members, for their role in undermining democracy in Guyana. The UK and Canada as well as the EU had also indicated that they were also considering following suit.
However, this advocacy by ABCE envoys had resulted in attacks against them by the former Government and coalition supporters.
US Ambassador Lynch is the lone Western diplomat who was on the frontline that is still serving in Guyana. Former British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn; former Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, and former Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, Fernando Ponz-Canto, have all since completed their tenure here.
However, these four ABCE diplomats were recognised and honoured for their role in ensuring the preservation of Guyana’s democracy by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) at its 25th Annual Awards Ceremony held at State House in December 2020 – four months after the PPP/C took office in August 2, 2020. (G8)