US funding for Guyana elections
Wednesday, April 08, 2015 | 9:47 AM, Source
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – The United States says it is providing US$300,000 to fund local and hemispheric observers as Guyana prepares to elect a new government on May 11.
"It is our hope that international and domestic observation will increase public and stakeholder confidence in the electoral process, culminating in all political parties' acceptance of the ultimate results," the US Embassy here said in a statement.
It said that the money would be used to support the monitoring programmes of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB).
"These resources will assist in their efforts to ensure fair, free, and credible elections in Guyana on May 11th,” it said, adding “the US Government is pleased to support the two organizations in bringing their credible and critical analysis to Guyana’s 2015 electoral process”.
Both the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and the coalition alliance of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) on Tuesday named their candidates for the May 11 regional and national poll.
In its statement, Washington said that it would continue to advocate globally for the expansion and strengthening of democratic governance and that regular free and fair elections are critical in this regard.
It said that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has established a strong track record of ensuring free, fair, and credible elections for the people of Guyana, and "we have full faith and confidence in its ability to do so once again in 2015."