By way of letter dated February 11, 2025, Dr. Richeline C. Joe, President of the Supreme Election Council of Curaçao (SEC) invited the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to send a technical team to observe the upcoming general elections in Curaçao. In response, a three-person team has been designated to observe the General Elections of Curaçao which will be held on Friday, 21 March, 2025.
The Observer Team is comprised of Chief of Mission, Mr. Corey C. Greenidge, Attorney-at-Law and Member of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Barbados; and Dr. Raj Rabindtranath Jadnanansing, a Member of the Independent Electoral Council in Suriname. The Team Members possess a combined wealth of experience in election management and observation. The Observer Team is joined by Mr. Brian Bellevue who serves as the CARICOM Secretariat’s Administrative and Technical Support Officer to the Team.
Members of the CARICOM Team arrived in Curaçao on 17 and 18 March, 2025 and immediately met to discuss its role and functions as well as the priorities pertaining to its performance at and around the polling stations, and other critical elements associated with Curaçao’s electoral processes.
Along with the Observer Teams from the Organization of American States (OAS) and The Central Voting Bureau Sint Maarten, the CARICOM Team attended a meeting on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, with members of SEC, headed by Dr. Richeline C. Joe, President of SEC. During this first meeting with the SEC, the Observer Teams received information regarding the election and the anticipated procedures for election day. The SEC team also fielded questions from the Observer Teams with respect to their expectations for the election process, including any concerns emanating from previous elections.
Ahead of election day, the SEC has scheduled the following presentations for the Observers:
- History of voting in Curaçao & Seat calculation, presented by Prof. Dr. Gilbert Cijntje, Rector of Inter-Continental University of the Caribbean.
- Curaçao as an Autonomous Country; the Constitutional and Fundamental Rights, presented Mrs. Ilianne Schotborgh, Legal and Legislative Affairs.
- The SEC Regulations (Lei Konseho Supremo Elecktoral), presented by Mrs. Peggy Isenia, Legal Advisor, Member of SEC.
After the presentations, the CARICOM Team will also have the opportunity to meet with representatives of the main political parties and other civil society stakeholders.
On the day prior to election day, the CARICOM Team will pay courtesy visits to the following high-ranking government officials:
- The Governor of Curaçao, Her Excellency Mrs. Lucille George-Wout
- Speaker of Parliament, Mrs. Charetti America-Francisca
- Prime Minister, Mr. Gilmar Pisas
Having received a copy of the 107 Polling Station locations, the CARICOM Team will liaise with its OAS counterparts so that a large and significant percentage of polling stations can be visited and observed.
On Election Day, the Team intends to focus on the opening of the poll procedures, the unfolding of the polling process, the closing of the polls and the vote count in the polling stations where the opening of the polls were observed.
The CARICOM Team expresses its appreciation for the support, cooperation and hospitality received from the President and staff of the SEC, and other Public/Statutory Institutions of Curaçao. It was evident on our arrival that the President and staff of the SEC had prepared a well-structured and organized visit which will allow the CARICOM Team to execute its mission with maximum efficiency.
Mr Corey C. Greenidge
Chief of Mission
CARICOM Observation Team, Curaçao
19 MARCH 2025
