Foreign Affairs

by Christopher Ram The descent into sporadic but geographically widespread violence following last Monday’s general and regional elections is a most regrettable and dangerous development in this country. Our political leaders must elevate the national interest above that of their party. This requires empathy, understanding and courage in order to protect our country’s hard won but still developing democracy. Those ...

International and local election observers told the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cummings that they felt threatened by her remarks that she was told to take away their accreditation. Although Cummings said she did not agree with that suggestion which was “in my ear”, the observers told her bluntly that they felt threatened. “They said you have to take away ...

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon said if the High Court throws out orders for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to verify election results for Region Four before they are declared, David Granger will be sworn in as President for a second straight term. He said GECOM could not have met to consider certified results by the ...

The United Nations (UN) on Friday called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to verify the Region Four results of Monday’s general and regional elections in keeping with the law. “We encourage the relevant Guyanese authorities to finalize the process in a manner which leaves no doubts as to the credibility of the results that reflect the will of the ...

The African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) on Friday called on key western nations and international observers to be cautious about the statements they have been issuing on the electoral situation in Guyana following the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections. ACDA noted that their statements were not contributing to a lowering of tensions in a country whose population ...

The United States (US) government and several members of the U. S. Congress piled pressure on Guyanese authorities over the questionable declaration of results for Region Four by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Acting Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak urged candidates not to declare victory until questions surrounding transparency and ...

Police Friday afternoon fired teargas and broke up a protest at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara on Thursday. The police action followed the burning of a utility pole that was placed across the Lusignan Public Road. The decision by the police to disperse the crowd came after top leaders of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)—Frank Anthony and Anil Nandlall—appealed to their ...

The international observer missions from the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States, the European Union, and The Carter Center Friday morning called for the resumption of tabulation of results for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) in keeping with the law or the results for the March 2, 2020, elections cannot be declared. “The law requires that tabulation must be conducted in the ...

United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Mikiko Tanaka has called on Guyana’s political parties to accept the results of next Monday’s general elections. “The dignified acceptance of the results by political parties will help to build confidence and trust in state institutions and create a foundation for cooperation beyond the election,” she said in a statement. The Guyana Elections ...

At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a 14-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) observer mission has begun arriving in Guyana to monitor next Monday’s general elections. In November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, Dr Karen Cummings officially informed the Caricom Secretariat of President David Granger’s proclamation that General and Regional Elections will be held on March 2. ...