Dear Editor,
The Electoral Reform Group (ERG) is encouraged by the President’s announcement that he will soon name the members of an international commission of inquiry (CoI) “to probe attempts to rig the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections.”
We are further encouraged by the announcement that Government proposes a “broad-based commission to lead a constitutional reform process.”
These two announcements signal promising steps towards a process to heal major weaknesses in Guyana’s governance architecture.
A thorough investigation into the events of the 2020 elections is an obviously necessary step to determine the roots of the crisis, and take steps to ensure smooth elections in the future. In the absence of publicly available Terms of Reference for the CoI, ERG anticipates that the CoI would inform the amendments being proposed to the Representation of the People Act, and highlight the need for reform of GECOM.
While there is much attention on the 2020 elections’ controversy, which is evidently focused on breakdowns in electoral administration, we hope the Government is equally serious about the promise to investigate the weaknesses of the electoral system, which includes the near absence of direct accountability of elected representatives to the electorate between elections. ERG, election observers, political analysts and others have consistently called for these reforms. We must fix the electoral system fundamentally, not entrench a bad system.
Reform of GECOM and the electoral system are obvious focus areas for the proposed constitutional reform process.
The CoI must also seek to establish a framework for regular review of elections. An impartial review must be a regular, routine process that follows elections, and this process should be led by a competent GECOM.
Sadly, this international CoI would not be the first case of international intervention to bring about electoral reform in Guyana. As an obvious requirement for success, the CoI and constitutional reform processes must seek broad-based cooperation with civil society and the political Opposition. ERG assures all stakeholders of its willingness to support these vital processes ahead of the 2025 elections.
Sincerely,
Electoral Reform
Group (ERG)
