The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) welcomed representatives from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) ahead of Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections.
GCCI President Kathy Smith recently met with Ambassador Marcelo Varela-Erasheva, Programme Manager, and Junior Paul Chanderpaul, Programme Officer at International IDEA, for a briefing on key initiatives supporting electoral integrity and voter education.
The team provided an update on the progress of a European Union-funded programme focused on strengthening electoral processes and civic education in Guyana.
During the meeting, the International IDEA team outlined a number of initiatives underway, including the production of voter education handbooks and videos—designed to be inclusive of individuals with hearing and visual impairments.
Plans are also in motion to deliver training sessions for election observers and journalists, ensuring wider preparedness and understanding of the electoral process.
Ambassador Varela-Erasheva noted that all materials produced under the programme are being reviewed and approved by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ensure accuracy and credibility.
In turn, Smith updated the delegation on the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to establish its Observer Group and welcomed potential collaboration on training for the observers.
She reaffirmed GCCI’s commitment to supporting free, fair and transparent elections, rooted in the rule of law and democratic values, and underscored the importance of timely, credible results.
The meeting highlighted strong shared goals between GCCI and International IDEA, particularly in building trust and public confidence in the electoral process through education, transparency and active citizen engagement.
