(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was invited by the Government of Grenada to mount a CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission (CEOM) to observe the Grenada Parliamentary Elections.
In response to that invitation, a seven-member delegation, under the leadership of Chief of Mission, Dr. Jennifer Van Dijk-Silos, Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Council of the Republic of Suriname has arrived to observe the conduct of the taking of the poll.
The other members of the delegation include Mr. Warren Francis Jnr., Regional Manager, Electoral Office of Jamaica, Ms. Glendina McKay, sitting member of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, Ms. Soledad Alonzo, Registering Officer, Elections and Boundaries Department of Belize, Mr. Mangaroo Ramphal, Assistant Chief Elections Officer, Elections and Boundary Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Dennisia Francisco, Project Officer, Foreign Policy and Community Relations of the CARICOM Secretariat and Ms. Serojnie Seetaram, Senior Secretary, Foreign Policy and External Economic Relations of the CARICOM Secretariat.
The main functions of the Mission are to observe the final preparations for the elections, hold discussions with stakeholders, Government, Opposition, the electoral officials and civil society. The Mission will also observe the electoral process, including the conduct of the Poll and counting of the ballots. An assessment of the outcome of the elections and the impact on the political environment will be included in the Report which will be submitted to the Secretary-General of CARICOM.
The Chief of Mission and Ms. Dennisia Francisco arrived on 12th February 2013 in Grenada.
Since arriving in Grenada, the Chief of Mission met with the Prime Minister, the Honourable Tillman Thomas, the Leader of the Opposition, the Commissioner of Police, the Leader of the National United Front (NUF), the Leader of the Grenada United Patriotic Movement (GUPM), the Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Trade Union Council, GNOW, Council of the Disabled, the Council of Churches of Grenada and the Supervisor of Elections.
The Chief of Mission is expected to meet with Civil Society on Monday, 18th February 2013.
These discussions provided the Mission with a good understanding of the reform process concerning the voters list, and issues and concerns raised regarding the preparations and conduct of the elections.
The Chief of Mission is satisfied with the extensive consultations and discussions held with stakeholders concerning the Parliamentary Elections. Based on this and the witnessing of the conduct of the Polls, the Mission will be able to make an objective assessment of the Elections. A Preliminary Statement will then be issued based on the findings and observations of the Mission.
The other members of the CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission arrived on 15th February 2013 and will be deployed to observe the conduct of the elections in fourteen constituencies and will endeavor to visit as many polling stations as possible. The Mission will also observe the vote counting and tabulation processes and will issue a preliminary statement of its findings prior to its departure on 21st February 2013.
The Mission expresses its appreciation to have the opportunity to observe the conduct of the elections of Grenada and supports the people of Grenada in this democratic process.
DR. JENNIFER VAN DIJK-SILOS GRENADA
CHIEF OF MISSION 17 FEBRUARY 2013
