Guyana’s elections were free and fair – PSC

Last Updated on Friday, 5 September 2025, 23:27 by Writer

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Thursday said the September 1 general and regional elections were “free, fair, and credible.”

“The PSC emphasises that the 2025 elections faithfully reflected the will of the Guyanese people,” said the PSC which observed the elections, including the recount of votes for regions Four and Five.

That apex business organisation made known its position after A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) presidential candidate Aubrey Norton’s letter to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) requesting no declaration of results, quashing of the elections, a forensic audit and fresh elections.

Mr Norton cited several alleged violations of Guyana’s Constitution and the Representation of the People Act and deemed invalid the APNU votes while accepting those cast for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC).

Though not naming the APNU or Mr Norton, the PSC said any mischaracterization of the European Union Electoral Observation Mission’s report as suggesting otherwise is “both misleading and untrue.”

“We are concerned by attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the process through the selective and misleading use of the European Union Election Observation Mission’s (EU EOM) preliminary report.

“As with all observer groups, the EU highlighted areas for future reform including campaign finance, media balance, and the structure of GECOM. These are recommendations to strengthen our democracy.

They do not amount to evidence of fraud, nor do they challenge the legitimacy of the outcome,” said the PSC, regarded in some circles as pro-PPPC.

In his letter to the GECOM Chairman, Mr Norton said the EU Report validates APNU’s assertion that the national elections were neither free nor fair. He said the report noted the PPP/C had an undue advantage of incumbency. Further, the media landscape was highly politicised with disproportionate coverage in favour of the PPP/C. Additionally, the state media and government social media were used to amplify campaign messaging, blurring the lines between the State and the PPP/C.

But the PSC said the EU’s own findings are unambiguous: Election Day was peaceful, orderly, and efficiently managed, with professional polling staff and transparent procedures, voting and counting were assessed positively, with statements of poll displayed publicly, in full compliance with the law.

The PSC said that, as with all observer groups, the EU highlighted areas for future reform including campaign finance, media balance, and the structure of GECOM. These are recommendations to strengthen our democracy.

The PSC said importantly, the Carter Center, the Commonwealth Observer Group, and CARICOM also confirmed that election day was both peaceful and credible. “None of these respected institutions disputed the integrity of the process or the legitimacy of the results.

The umbrella business support organisation also said it remained committed to working with its local and international partners to advance electoral reform and to safeguard public confidence in Guyana’s democracy.