(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), at the invitation of the Government of Dominica, mounted a CARICOM Election Observation Mission to Dominica to observe that country’s General Election which is due to be held on Monday, 8 December 2014. The seven member CEOM comprising members of several Member States of the Caribbean Community arrived in Dominica on 4 December 2014
The Mission is headed by Miss Lena Sahadeo of Trinidad and Tobago with the other members as follows –
Mr. Hensley Robinson, Barbados;
Ambasssador Rudolph Collins, Guyana;
Ms. Vilma Smith, Jamaica; and
Mr. Gasper Jn. Baptiste, Saint Lucia
The Mission is ably supported by two members of staff of the CARICOM Secretariat, Ms. Tricia Barrow-Hazelwood and Ms. Helen Marshall. Four of the Observers arrived in Dominica on 4 December 2014 while the remaining members arrived on 5 December 2014.
The role of the CEOM is to basically observe the electoral process, collect information on the results, collect qualitative observations, observe and assess the outcomes and collaborate in the preparation of reports. With a formidable task ahead, the Mission has had the opportunity to meet with the following teams of persons on Friday, 5 December 2014:
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission and the Chief Elections Officer;
The Chief of Police supported by his senior superintendents;
Civil Societies of the Commonwealth of Dominica;
Leader of the Opposition and a party official;
Deputy Leader and General Secretary of the Incumbent Party
The Mission met with the Prime Minister of Dominica on Saturday, 6 December 2014. The meeting was cordial and the Prime Minister expressed the view that he was looking forward to Monday’s Election, with the hope that there will be no incidents and, if any, they will be minor.
It is the intention of the Mission to monitor if not all, most of the activities of the poll in as many constituencies as possible and as many polling stations as time permits. The day will begin with the Opening of the Poll. The voting process will be monitored, the closing of the poll will be observed and finally, the tallying of the ballots will be followed. From the information gleaned, the Mission will issue a Preliminary Statement. A full report will thereafter be submitted to H.E. Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community.
We take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks for the support given to us thus far. Persons have taken the time to meet with us and share their experiences, views and opinions. They have been forthright with the Mission and this has really assisted us in our mandate to promote transparency and enhance public confidence. We believe that these are our partners in democracy, and without them there can be no improvement in the process.
