U.S. supporting security, observers for general elections

Last Updated on Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 20:16 by Denis Chabrol

The United States (U.S.) would be supporting the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in strengthening its capacity for the September 1 general and regional elections, American Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot said on Wednesday.

“It was just a result of a request from the GPF that this is something they could use some assistance and we’re happy to provide it,” she said. Ms Theriot said the U.S. has “a lot of expertise” in holding contentious but peaceful elections. Law enforcement agents from Las Vegas and Miami-Dade are tipped to arrive in Guyana. She said the relatively small number of experts would be coming to train GPF trainers.

The U.S. envoy also said her government would be funding two-thirds of the Organization of American States’ (OAS) election observation mission and “working closely” with the Carter Center that would be observing the results tabulation. “We’re very, very pleased to have that incredible institution here and to be able to support them,” she said.

She said the United Kingdom, European Union and Canadian Chiefs-of-Mission were also backing those efforts. “We’re playing a role and coordinating amongst all of the missions” as well as the Private Sector Commission and other observation missions. “We’re trying to ensure that we are all working together so that we’re not redundant and, hopefully, every polling station in the country has international observers,” she said. She stressed the importance of having party and international observers would be “very instrumental in that.”

Ms Theriot said the U.S. Embassy would be fielding 50 observers and assisted by United Nations Development Programme “embedded advisors” who took up their positions last week.

The U.S. Ambassador acknowledged being informed by Guyana’s political opposition about a bloated voters list that could lead to voter impersonation and multiple voting. She said, however, that GECOM had informed that it could hold free and fair elections. “I have heard those concerns from different leaders of the opposition and the average Guyanese person when I speak has concerns about that but I will tell you that we meet regular with GECOM, the CEO, the Commissioners, the Chairwoman and, as they described the process, we feel that there will be a free, fair and transparent election but all of the procedures just simply have to be followed at every polling station in the country,” she said.

Nomination Day is July 14.

More than 700,000 Guyanese are listed to vote in this year’s general elections.