GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has hailed Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections as a milestone in electoral management, declaring that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) “delivered one of the most transparent, credible, and professionally managed elections in the country’s modern history.” The statement was published in UNDP’s editorial “Strengthening Trust in Democracy”, which assessed its support to the electoral process.
The UNDP noted that its programme—funded by the UK Government—helped strengthen GECOM’s operations through improved communication systems, inclusive voter-education campaigns and modernised ICT tools that supported timely public updates and enhanced transparency throughout tabulation.
International observers offered similar praise while calling for continued structural reforms.
The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) said polling was conducted in a calm and orderly manner, commending GECOM’s logistical preparation and the professionalism of polling staff. However, it reiterated concerns about the slow pace of reforms recommended over several election cycles. “The need for a robust post-electoral mechanism to advance legislative and constitutional reform is urgent,” the mission said.
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) described the vote as well-run and reflective of improved public information measures, including the posting of Statements of Poll online. Still, it warned that Guyana’s political environment remains highly polarised and highlighted gaps in campaign-finance rules and access to balanced media coverage.
The Carter Center reported that Guyanese voters participated “peacefully and with commitment to the democratic process,” praising GECOM for managing polling day and tabulation professionally. It pointed to the persistent controversy over the size and accuracy of the voter list, urging reforms to boost confidence in future cycles.
Observers agreed that election day operations and tabulation represented a significant strengthening of Guyana’s democratic machinery compared with previous cycles, including the disputed 2020 results. But they emphasised that sustaining trust will require deeper reforms, ranging from campaign-finance transparency to modernising voter-registration systems and enhancing bipartisan cooperation in electoral oversight.
With the People’s Progressive Party/Civic securing a second term and President Irfaan Ali returning to office, analysts say the credibility of the 2025 vote sets the stage for broader governance reforms. The success of the next electoral cycle, they note, will depend on how quickly Guyana moves from procedural improvements to long-promised structural change.