The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) on Thursday formally handed over its Elections Observation Report 2025 to the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, at GECOM Headquarters in Georgetown.
The report concluded the ERC’s accredited observation duties and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting peaceful and inclusive democratic processes in Guyana.
Representing the ERC at the handover were Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack, Deputy Chairman Charles Ogle, Commissioners Neaz Subhan and Krishn Sharma, and Chief Executive Officer Gomin Camacho. Present for GECOM was Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud.
According to the report, the 2025 elections were conducted “peacefully, professionally, transparently, and in a free and fair manner” in line with national law. It noted that voters from all racial and ethnic groups were able to exercise their franchise without intimidation, discrimination, or obstruction. Minor issues with the placement of ballot compartments and signage visibility were recorded, but the ERC stated that these did not compromise the integrity or inclusiveness of the process.
The report highlighted that the campaign period for Elections 2025 was highly competitive and involved significantly fewer infractions compared to the 2020 elections. Election Day, September 1, was described as orderly, calm, and free of tension, allowing voters to exercise their democratic rights without hindrance. GECOM was commended for administering electoral procedures professionally and in accordance with national law.
Investigative unit
The ERC’s Investigative Unit recorded 29 cases during the 2025 election-monitoring period, down from 124 cases in 2020. This decline was attributed to improved transparency, efficiency, and amendments to the Representation of the People Act, including the electronic posting of Statements of Poll (SOPs) and stronger penalties for obstruction or interference with voting. The Commission noted these measures contributed to reduced ethnic tension and increased public confidence in the electoral process.
The ERC expressed gratitude to GECOM, the Guyana Police Force, political parties, accredited observers, constituency bodies, partner organisations, and the electorate for their roles in ensuring a peaceful and orderly electoral process. The Commission reiterated its readiness to continue working collaboratively to support peaceful and inclusive elections in the future.
The full ERC Elections Observation Report 2025 is available on the Commission’s website at www.erc.org.gy.
Guyana’s 2025 GRE saw just over 442,000 Guyanese turning out to cast their votes. The results saw the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) taking an overwhelming win with 242,498 votes and returning President Dr Irfaan Ali to a second term in office. The party’s improved performance saw it gaining additional seats in the National Assembly, moving from a previous 33 seats to 36 seats. Other parties winning seats included the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) with 16 seats, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with 12 seats and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) with one seat.
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