VZCZCXRO9722
OO RUEHGR
DE RUEHGE #0855/01 2411850
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291850Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3999
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1005
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0385
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0155
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2183
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0092
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000855 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA FOR DAS DUDDY 
WHA/CAR 
WHA/OAS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM OAS GY
SUBJECT: GUYANA ELECTION STATUS REPORT: AUGUST 29 
AT 13:00 HOURS 
 
REF:  A. GEORGETOWN 854 
 
  ¶B. GEORGETOWN 850 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:  Georgetown remained quiet overnight as the 
consensus solidified that the August 28 national and regional 
elections proceeded better than expected on a technical level.  OAS 
A/SYG Albert Ramdin made a statement to this effect after the polls 
closed.  Field reports from Embassy personnel who volunteered as OAS 
observers -- many of whom were deployed to traditionally volatile 
areas -- confirm that the voting and tallying process went smoothly 
except for some instances of disorganization.  But election day 
itself was never supposed to be the hardest part.  Now the country 
turns its attention to the results, which are trickling in slower 
than promised.  We and most Guyanese are apprehensive about how the 
Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will report the results.  Delay 
and/or confusion could still trigger unrest.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
GECOM Slow in Reporting Results; Feedback from Parties 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) GECOM had intended to begin releasing results August 28 at 
23:00, but missed that deadline.  Results are now trickling in. As 
of 13:00 August 29, GECOM had released returns for 35 percent of the 
polling sites in Region 4, which includes the capital and is the 
most populous region.  Traditionally an opposition People's National 
Congress/Reform (PNC/R) stronghold, these initial counts show the 
PPP/C with a lead in Region 4.  This is just the sort of information 
that has the potential to strike a nerve in restive Georgetown 
communities.  GECOM will address the media again at 20:00. 
 
----- 
PNC/R 
----- 
 
¶3. (SBU) A senior PNC/R figure told PolOff that the PNC/R is 
disappointed with the low voter turnout, but has not heard major 
complaints within the party about the conduct of the election day 
process -- an encouraging sign.  (Note: Only about two-thirds of 
registered voters appear to have cast ballots, a decrease from 
Guyana's historical turnout of above 80 percent.  However, this is 
reasonable given that as many as 15 percent of registered voters may 
have emigrated over the past several years.) 
 
----- 
PPP/C 
----- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General 
Secretary Donald Ramotar told the press he believes the PPP/C has a 
 
SIPDIS 
slim majority.  Ramotar told PolOff that they will refrain from 
taking their internal numbers public as long as GECOM does a decent 
job transmitting results.  He also predicts the PPP/C won 52 to 53 
percent of the vote and will maintain its absolute majority in 
Parliament. 
 
--- 
AFC 
--- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Results from an exit-poll commissioned by the upstart 
Alliance For Change (AFC) are quietly making the rounds among the 
Georgetown political set.  This poll indicates a PNC/R victory, the 
PPP/C second, and a strong AFC showing of 21 percent.  We have very 
little confidence in these numbers -- plus the methodology and 
sample-size used are unknown.  Our PNC/R source does not give great 
credence to the AFC exit poll.  However, the fact that the PNC/R is 
aware of these numbers suggesting it won could spell trouble if the 
actual results confirm a PPP/C victory as expected. 
 
¶6. (SBU) AFC leader Trotman told DCM he believes the AFC achieved 
its objectives: preventing the PPP/C from winning a majority, and 
making the AFC the balance of power.  While he wants to believe the 
AFC won 21 percent, he also cannot explain the PPP/C and PNC/R 
numbers and has taken on board numerous interventions from the 
international community over the past week regarding the difficulty 
of obtaining accurate exit poll results in Guyana.  Trotman's 
optimism is likely misplaced. 
 
GEORGETOWN 00000855  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
----------------------------- 
AmCits and Peace Corps all OK 
----------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) The Consular Section reports there have been no calls from 
AmCits on election-related issues.  As a precautionary measure, all 
Peace Corps Volunteers are out of Georgetown. 
 
------------------------- 
OAS Statement from Ramdin 
------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) Following is the text of OAS A/SYG Ramdin's statement late 
August 28 after he had consulted twice with Ambassador and other 
donor community Chiefs of Mission. 
 
BEGIN TEXT: On election day, 28 August, 2006, the OAS Observer 
Mission deployed a team of 123 observers in the 10 regions in Guyana 
to observe General and Regional Elections. 
 
Reports from OAS observers throughout the day indicated that the 
General and Regional Elections took place in a calm, professional 
and orderly manner.  The OAS Observer Mission extends 
congratulations to the people of Guyana for the peaceful conduct of 
the polls; GECOM for its work in preparing and conducting the 
elections; polling station officials, party agents and domestic 
observers for their commitment and professionalism; law enforcement 
and the disciplined forces for maintaining a peaceful and orderly 
environment; and the media for keeping the electorate informed about 
the process. 
 
The OAS Observer Mission calls on GECOM to transmit the results of 
the elections as soon as verified to further promote confidence in 
the process, and the electorate and contesting parties to exercise 
patience while awaiting the results of the elections.  The Mission 
further underscores the importance of maintaining a constructive and 
peaceful environment in the coming days.  END TEXT. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Embassy and other OAS observers report generally good 
dymanics in the polling stations, with GECOM polling staff, 
political party agents, and local/international observers 
interacting in friendly mutually supportive manner.  This is a 
change from previous elections marked by mutual suspicion.  The 
acknowledgement by the three major parties that polling went well is 
also a positive change from past three elections.  The real test now 
will be political party reactions once the final results are 
announced Wednesday or Thursday.  END COMMENT. 
 
ROBINSON