OAS to observe Sept 1 election in Guyana

The Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Government of Guyana on Tuesday signed an agreement paving the way for the deployment of an Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to monitor Guyana’s upcoming General and Regional Elections, scheduled for September 1.

The agreement was formalised at the OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, by OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Samuel Hinds.
Secretary General Ramdin emphasised the hemispheric body’s longstanding support for democratic governance in Guyana, noting that the 2025 mission will mark the seventh time the OAS has observed elections in the country. “This is an affirmation that democracy is alive and strengthened in the country,” Ramdin stated. He also underscored the constructive role of EOMs, adding, “Electoral Observation Missions are not meant to criticise but to deliver positive, achievable recommendations that help strengthen institutions and reinforce public trust.”
Ambassador Hinds echoed the importance of electoral transparency and thanked the OAS for its continued support. “We do this conscious that democracy is necessary for development, security, and human rights,” he said.
The OAS has played a pivotal role in safeguarding democratic processes in Guyana, most notably during the 2020 General and Regional Elections. At that time, the electoral process was marred by attempts to manipulate results and undermine the will of the electorate. The OAS, along with other international observer missions, was instrumental in exposing discrepancies and demanding transparency and accuracy in the tabulation process.
The 2020 mission was led by the now-late Owen Arthur, former Prime Minister of Barbados, whose firm stance during the post-election challenges was widely credited with helping to protect the integrity of the vote. Arthur publicly condemned efforts by elements within the then APNU/AFC administration to alter the results in their favour, stating unequivocally that any government sworn in on the basis of fraudulent results would be illegitimate.
His leadership, alongside the OAS’s principled advocacy, played a critical role in ensuring that the true outcome of the 2020 elections was respected.
For the 2025 electoral cycle, Bruce Golding, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, will reprise his role as Chief of Mission, a position he also held in 2020. Golding was part of the team that monitored the extended tabulation and recount process, providing timely reports that helped the international community understand the scope and gravity of the situation.
Since first observing elections in Guyana in 1997, the OAS has maintained a consistent presence in the country’s electoral landscape. Its involvement has been widely regarded as an important check in preserving electoral fairness and public confidence.