UN delegation holds talks ahead of Local Government and General Elections in Guyana

The Guyana government has held talks a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for technical assistance in preparation for the 2018 Local Government elections and the 2020 general election.
A statement from the Office of the Attorney General, said that the three member delegation consisting of Hassan Sesay, Senior Electoral/Political Affairs Officer, Fernanda Lopes, Election/Governance Expert and Guillermo Kendall, Senior Political Affairs Officer met with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, on the request made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for technical assistance ahead of the polls.
“The aim of the visit was to discuss with the Attorney General the purpose of the Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) whose functions are to evaluate the current and electoral environment in Guyana, and assess the form of future UN electoral assistance. The NAM will recommend the type of assistance that should be provided and the parameters, including the length of assistance, and modalities that will govern such assistance,” the statement said.
It said that the discussion covered a spectrum of issues that will be dealt with in preparation for the Local Government and the general elections.
“Those issues are the results tabulation process; developing the necessary software to expedite the process; the biometric instrument used at polling stations; verifications of electoral listings; and to ensure security at the polling stations.
“UNDP will render support and guidelines in those capacities and where else necessary. At the end of the visit a report will be prepared with recommendations which will be submitted to UNDP Guyana,” the statement noted.