By way of communication dated 24 July 2025, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica advised Member States of Jamaica’s upcoming General Parliamentary Elections, constitutionally due on or before September 2025, and invited the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to field a CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to observe its conduct. Subsequently, on 10 August 2025, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica, announced that General Parliamentary Elections would be held on 3 September 2025.
In response to the invitation, the Caribbean Community mounted a ten-member CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to observe the electoral processes for the General Parliamentary Elections from 27 August to 5 September 2025.
The CEOM is headed by the Chief of Mission, Ms. Fern Narcis, Chief Elections Officer of the Elections and Boundaries Commission of Trinidad and Tobago. The other Members of the Observation Mission are as follows:
- Antigua and Barbuda – Mr. Clovis St. Romain, Commissioner, Electoral Commission;
- Antigua and Barbuda – Ms. Elisa Graham, Public Relations Officer, Electoral Commission;
- The Bahamas – Ms. Denise Pinder, Assistant Parliamentary Commissioner, Parliamentary Registration Department;
- Grenada – Mr. Arthur Pierre, Supervisor of Elections, Parliamentary Elections Office;
- Saint Lucia – Ms. Alymphia Lionel, Assistant Chief Elections Officer, Electoral Department;
- Saint Lucia – Mr. Peter Kervin Fedee, Systems/Network Administrator, Electoral Department;
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Ms. Danielle Williams, National Security Electoral Quality Assurance Clerk, Electoral Office;
- Suriname – Ms. Anushka Ramesar-Gopalrai, Alternate Member, Independent Electoral Council;
- Suriname – Mr. Ravin Jiawan, District Commissioner and Alternate Member, Independent Electoral Council; and
- Trinidad and Tobago – Ms. Danielle Chow, Commissioner, Election and Boundaries Commission.
The CEOM is supported by the following CARICOM Secretariat staff:
- Mr. Brian Bellevue, Programme Manager, Foreign and Community Relations;
- Mr. David Allens, Project Officer, Foreign and Community Relations; and
- Ms. Denise Morgan, Stenographer II, Foreign and Community Relations.
The Core Group, which consists of the Chief of Mission and CARICOM Secretariat Staff, arrived in Jamaica on 27 August 2025. Other Observers arrived on 27 and 28 August 2025. Since arrival, meetings have been held with Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica and Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, as well as with Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. Members of the team have also observed the conduct of the Advance Poll at several locations in Kingston.
Over the coming days, the Mission will continue its programme of engagements, meeting with the Opposition political parties, the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, the Commissioner of Police, and as many other stakeholders of the electoral process as time will allow.
The role of the CEOM Observers on election day is to observe the electoral process across Jamaica, including preparations for the start of the poll, the casting of votes, the closure of the polling stations, the counting of the ballots, the preparation of the statement of polls and the tabulation of results. Qualitative and quantitative information regarding the voting process and the results will be collected to facilitate the preparation of an Independent Final Report on the General Parliamentary Elections to Jamaica with the objective of assessing its transparency, fairness, and adherence to accepted democratic standards.
Following the conclusion of the Election Day activities on 3 September 2025, and prior to the Mission’s departure on 5 September 2025, a Preliminary Statement will be issued, outlining the Mission’s initial assessment of the electoral process. The Mission will thereafter prepare a detailed Independent Final Report on the elections for submission to Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community.
The CEOM looks forward to supporting the democratic processes of Jamaica and extends best wishes to the Jamaican people as they prepare to go to the polls with pride and unity on Wednesday, 3 September 2025.
FERN NARCIS
CHIEF OF MISSION
29 AUGUST 2025
