CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) ELECTORAL
OBSERVER MISSION TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana)  On the invitation of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) agreed to mount a CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission to monitor the electoral system and processes, as well as the conduct of the General Elections to be held on 23 March 2004.

The nine-member Observer Mission comprises:

Core Group:

Mr Dennis A. Smith, M.B.E., J.P Former Chief Elections Officer Barbados

 

-  Chief of Mission   

 

Mr Eugene G. Petty
Programme Manager
CARICOM Secretariat
(Former Supervisor of Elections, St Kitts and Nevis)

 

-  Representative of CARICOM Secretariat and Coordinator of Mission

 

Ms Mignon E. Bowen
Administrative Assistant CARICOM Secretariat

 

-  Administrative Assistant to the Mission

Observer Team:

Dr Bernard Nottage
President and Chief Executive Officer, the Coalition for Democratic Reform

 

-  The Bahamas

 

Ms Guadalupe Vargas
Registration Officer, Elections and Boundaries Department

 

-  Belize

 

Ms Judith Pestaina
International Elections Observer (Formerly worked with the Commonwealth Secretariat)

 

-  Dominica

 

Mr Clem John
Former Chief Elections Officer

 

-  Dominica

 

Mr Lothar Boksteen
Member
Independent Electoral Bureau

-  Suriname

 

Mr Laurence Thomas
Deputy Chief Elections Officer

-  Trinidad and Tobago

The Core Group arrived in Antigua and Barbuda on 15 March 2004.  The other members of the Observer Mission will arrive on 20 March 2004.  Eight Members of the Mission will be based in Antigua, while one will be deployed in Barbuda.  The CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission will depart the country on 25 March 2004.

The CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission, in performing its role, will hold consultations with Government Officials, Electoral Officials, leaders of political parties, representatives of the business community and civil society, and the media, on various aspects of the electoral system, including preparations for the Elections.

On the Day of Elections, the Observer Mission will monitor the electoral process, including the opening of the Poll, the voting process, the closing of the Poll and the counting of the ballots.  The Mission will also assess the outcome of the Elections and issue a preliminary statement based on the Mission’s observations and findings. A Report on the General Elections will also be prepared later and submitted to the CARICOM Secretary-General.

Since arriving in Antigua and Barbuda, the CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission has paid a courtesy call on His Excellency, the Governor General and held discussions with the Prime Minister and Members of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP), as well as the Leader of the Opposition and Members of the United Progressive Party (UPP). 

The Observer Mission has also held extensive discussions with the Electoral Commission and the Supervisor of Elections.  In addition, the Mission met with the Antigua Chamber of Commerce, the Commissioner of Police and Colonel of Army, and the Antigua Christian Council.  

The discussions with Government Officials, Electoral Officials, the Police and Army, and representatives of political parties, the business community and civil society have provided the Mission with a good understanding of issues, particularly the Register of Voters and distribution of ID cards, related to the preparations for the Elections and an appreciation of concerns relevant to the conduct of the General Elections. 

The CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission is very pleased with, and grateful for, the cooperation received from the representatives of the various stakeholders in the General Elections.