Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Guyanese counterpart on that Government's decision not to allow two accredited international observers from the Carter Centre to return to Guyana to observe the ongoing election recount and the remainder of Guyana’s electoral process.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement of 24 March, a transition of government in Guyana should only take place in line with transparent and democratic principles that lead to credible results. We continue to call upon President Granger to ensure that proper procedures are followed before embarking upon a transition of government. Our High Commissioner, on the Foreign Secretary's behalf, has worked with US, Canadian and EU counterparts to make clear our concerns and disappointment at the refusal to allow the Carter Center and IRI into the country. The UK will continue to call for all to adhere to the democratic principles Guyana has signed up to as a member of the Commonwealth, to ensure the voice and will of the people of Guyana are heard.