General and presidential elections in this Caribbean country should have been held on 17 January 2001, as stipulated in the Herdmanston Accord, an agreement between the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic and the opposition People's National Congress signed in January 1998 in an effort to end months of political violence following the 1997 election. Nevertheless, in November 2000, the Elections Commission announced the postponement of the elections until 19 March 2001.

The electoral debate during the campaign focused on allegations of fraud in the database of voters. Some opposition supporters complained they were not allowed to vote, saying their names had been omited from the list of registered voters. Outgoing President Jagdeo denied flaws in the registration lists, as he assured that irregularities had affected both government and opposition strongholds. Nevertheless, electoral authorities conceded that about five per cent of the electorate was not allowed to vote due to registration-related errors.

Voting went peacefully despite tension in the days leading up to the elections and fears of ethnic violence. Nearly 90% of the some 440,000 registered voters cast their votes.

Some 20 groups of international observers from the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the European Union, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Carter Center monitored the elections. The overall impression of most of these groups was that the voting was generally free and fair.

Out of the 13 parties that were registered to take part in the elections, only four secured representation in the National Assembly. Results released by the Elections Commission gave the incumbent PPP/C 35 of the 65 seats, as against 27 for the PNC and the remaining three for two new parties.

After the proclamation of the results, the situation became quite tense as the opposition PNC supported street protests calling for President Jagdeo to step down and claiming widespread irregularities in the elections.

Voter turnout was 91.72%.

On 31 March 2001 Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, the leader of the People's Progressive Party/Civic was sworn in for a new term as President of the country. On 4 May 2001, the new Parliament held its first sitting and elected Mr Ralph Ramkarran from the PPP/C as its new Speaker.