Dear Editor,
By now, the public is aware that the European Union Election Observation Mission has released its final report into the 2025 General and Regional Elections. Anyone genuinely concerned about democracy should read the report in full.
What becomes apparent on review of the report is that Guyana has much to be proud of; significant strides have been made to improve the health of our democracy after the scars of 2020. After the Granger Government attempted to rig the 2020 Elections, the EU EOM made several priority recommendations for the future conduct of elections. The 2025 EOM report acknowledges the fulfillment of three of these priority measures through the Government’s amendments to the Representation of the People’s Act (ROPA) in 2022. These measures, from the real-time online publication of SOPs to harsher penalties for electoral fraud, were heralded as a “welcome development” aimed at boosting transparency.
Equally compelling is that the report completely dismantles the allegations of electoral fraud leveled by U.S.-indicted Member of Parliament Azruddin Mohamed. Despite the EU itself congratulating President Ali and the PPP/C on September 7th, strangely enough, Mr. Mohamed has welcomed this very report, even though it thoroughly discredits his claims.
Not only was Election Day described as “peaceful” and “orderly”, but the report also confirms that voting and counting were “efficiently administered,” with tabulation equally efficient. This underscores the integrity and transparency of Polling Day activities, striking down Mohamed’s allegation of rigging. Additionally, the report highlighted that voters were able to cast their ballots in an “orderly environment”, free to exercise their democratic franchise. Further, the Observer Mission made it clear that PPP/C, APNU and WIN representatives were present at 100% of the observed polling stations. Alongside a brief scan of the SOPs published online, this cements that WIN agents would have joined the PPP/C and APNU agents in signing off on every single SOP. This exposes the glaring contradiction in Mr. Mohamed’s shifting narrative.
Debate will continue on the incumbent’s advantage; between 2006 and 2025, Guyana went nineteen years without reelecting a sitting President. But the EU Observers Report is clear: the integrity and transparency of the election remained intact. History continues to remind us that lies remain lies, no matter the repetition. Guyana is a fledgling and vibrant democracy which only continues to grow. Suggestions to the contrary have no basis in fact. The EU Observers Report simply affirms this.