The government cannot halt its work because an election is near; doing so would threaten the
democratic progress that international observers often praise.
This was the message from the Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for
Public Affairs and Information, Kwame McCoy.
Minister McCoy cited the European Union’s final report on the 2025 elections, noting that while
the report “praises the process, professionalism, reforms, peaceful atmosphere, and
competence of polling staff,” it still “pivots to the familiar refrain: the ‘advantage of incumbency,’
as if good governance must be treated as a form of misconduct once an election year arrives.”
He emphasized that this kind of logic is inherently flawed, cautioning that it could paralyze
governments.
According to the minister, officials should avoid communities that rely on government
assistance, delay already approved projects, and scale back routine administrative duties to
prevent accusations of giving an ‘advantage’. “Ribbon-cutting ceremonies? Too risky. Hospitals
opening? Off-limits. Subsidies for farmers? A scandal is waiting to happen. The only way to stay
‘balanced’ is to become invisible,” Minister McCoy said.
He emphasized that this is “not how democracies function.”
The minister pointed out that “Governments in Europe campaign on results. They launch
programs, highlight achievements, cut ribbons, and claim credit for their work. Nobody pauses
progress to soothe the opposition,” adding that “The public judges a government by what it
delivers, not by how quietly it retreats before an election.”
Minister McCoy further argued that framing effective governance as electoral misconduct
“confuses diligence with wrongdoing.”
He emphasized that “Schools, roads, hospitals, and social programs are not ‘incumbency
perks.’ They are the work of a government fulfilling its mandate.”
In his closing remarks, the minister reaffirmed that “Good governance is not cheating. It is
expected. A thriving democracy is measured by what it delivers, not by how quietly it steps
aside”.
Minister McCoy is right to explain how democracy works in Guyana. The EU election monitors
should also focus on cleaning up their own democracies in Europe. There are instances where
right-wing and far-right parties seem not too concerned about putting candidates on their EU
ballot lists who have been accused or even convicted of fraud involving public resources or of
accepting bribes from local entities and foreign countries.
The EU should put its house in order before criticizing how democracy works in Guyana.