Commonwealth approves 15-member election observer mission

Former Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretary General, Denis Marshall, Queen’s Service Order, (QSO), who also served as a minister in the New Zealand government, will lead a 15-member Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) for the upcoming general and regional elections in Guyana. The group was constituted by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma at the invitation of the government of Guyana, a release from the Commonwealth Secretariat said.

“The Commonwealth has a long history of engagement with Guyana, and we are pleased to be observing these important elections,” said the secretary general. “We hope the electoral campaign and ballot will further strengthen democratic processes there, and that all participants will engage peacefully and constructively throughout.”

The group’s mandate is to observe and consider all aspects of the electoral process with a view to assessing compliance with the standards for democratic elections to which Guyana is committed. Where appropriate, the team may also make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral framework.

According to the release, the group will act impartially and independently, and conduct itself according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation, to which the Commonwealth is a signatory. The group’s report will be submitted to the Commonwealth secretary general, who will convey it to the government of Guyana, the Guyana Electoral Commission, political parties, and in due course to all Commonwealth governments.

The COG, which will arrive in Guyana on Monday, November 21 and be in the country until December 5 comprises: Marshall QSO, CPA Secretary General (2002-6) and formerly New Zealand Conservation, Forestry and Lands Minister; former Australian Senate President, Alan Ferguson; Democracywatch Bangladesh Executive Director, Taleya Rehman; Canadian media expert, Wendy Sawatzky; Dominican Election Commission Chairman, Gerald Burton; Ghanaian human rights expert, Nana Oye Lithur; Chief New Delhi, India Electoral Officer, Rina Ray; Kenyan elections expert, Catherine Musuva; Nigerian lawyer, Dafe Akpedeye; Pakistan Election Commissioner, Justice (Retired) Fazal-ur-Rahman Bazai; St Kitts and Nevis elections expert, Oliver Knight; Sri Lanka youth representative, Andi Schubert; Trinidad and Tobago Communications Expert Adelle Roopchand; UK media consultant, Timothy Neale, and Transparency International Zambia Executive Director, Goodwell Lungu.