UNASUR Observer Mission calls on citizens to exercise their democratic duty on Elections Day
Written by Gina Webmasters, Published in News, Georgetown GINA, May 10, 2015, Source
General and Regional Elections are scheduled for tomorrow, May 11, and Chief Representative of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Observer Mission, Dr. Domingo Paredes is calling on Guyanese to exercise their democratic duty. He said he hopes serenity and peace prevail so the elections can be an example for the rest of the region.
Chief Representative of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) observer mission, Dr. Domingo Paredes among other delegates during a press briefing at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown
Paredes was at the time speaking at a press briefing at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston today, where he updated media operatives of the mission’s plans and objectives for the electoral process over the next two days.
“…it is important for the media outlets ...(to) assist in this general call for citizens to exercise the most important democratic duty…respecting the popular will, which is sacred to all democracies, and respect the lawful results and exercise all legal means in case of dissatisfaction of any political organisation or party... it is important to (have) peace and trust to guard democracy,” Paredes emphasised.
The sixteen-member team comprises delegates from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, and Venezuela among other countries, and representatives from the Secretary General of UNASUR's Secretariat.
The team will be visiting centres in Parika, Region Three; Georgetown Region Four, New Amsterdam Region Six; and Linden, Region Ten. The selection of these locations was done so that the mission could examine whether the recommendations that were made during the last elections, were implemented.
Paredes explained that the mission’s presence in Guyana has two main objectives, to contribute to the development of the electoral process and abide with the principles of cooperation and solidarity. “We wish for the best practices in the electoral fields and to help better and stabilise democracy in the region, that is our main goal,” Paredes added.
UNASUR is among several Missions in the country to observe the election