(Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) This year, eleven Caribbean nations will hold electoral processes, marking a critical opportunity for strengthening democracies and inclusive participation across the Region.
In this context, representatives from CARICOM electoral management bodies attended a two-day workshop from March 26-27 in Georgetown, Guyana, aimed at enhancing their skills in electoral observation and strengthening their role in promoting safe, inclusive, and credible electoral processes.
The workshop, titled “Electoral Observation and Roundtable Discussion on Gender and Elections in the Caribbean,” was organised by the CARICOM Secretariat, the United Nations Department for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA); and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The activity follows the world’s most comprehensive methodology for the training of electoral stakeholders: BRIDGE – Building Resources in Democracy, Governance, and Elections. This is the first time in eight years that BRIDGE has been implemented in the Caribbean, building on similar experiences held in 2016 and 2018.
The two-day workshop, supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), included participation from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the African Union (AU).
Delivering remarks on behalf of CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign and Community Relations, Ms. Elizabeth Solomon emphasised the timeliness of the workshop given the significant number of elections occurring across the region this year.
“We are at a critical juncture as we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, marked by evolving challenges to democratic norms. It is therefore opportune that we reinforce our capacity to conduct credible and transparent elections. Electoral observation plays a pivotal role in ensuring that these processes are conducted with integrity, fostering public trust and confidence,” ASG Solomon stated.
She outlined the scope of the workshop, noting that it covered the electoral process, including election systems, observation methodologies, legal frameworks, voting and tabulation procedures, and importantly, the gender dimensions of elections.
Ms. Solomon emphasised the vital role of women in all aspects of the electoral process, stating that the Community “recognizes and values the significant contribution of women in ensuring fair and inclusive democracies.”
In this regard, she commended the workshop’s focus on addressing the barriers women face and exploring ways to enhance their participation and leadership in electoral processes.
Commending the CARICOM-UNDP-UNDPPA partnership, she said it underscores the “collective commitment to strengthening the foundations of democratic governance” in the Region.
“The collaboration is a cornerstone of our shared mission to uphold democratic principles in the Region, allowing for the stability, prosperity, and well-being of our nationals,” ASG Solomon stated.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Mr. Nicolas Pron, affirmed that the workshop is a testament of the shared commitment to uphold the principles of safe, inclusive, and credible elections.
“This event is the result of a longstanding and productive cooperation between CARICOM and the United Nations,” Mr. Pron stated.
Highlighting the responsibility of sovereign states to ensure periodic and genuine elections that reflect the will of their people, the UN representative underscored the value of the international community and regional organisations in supporting nationally owned processes for peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
The UN’s electoral assistance footprint spans over 50 countries, working with national stakeholders throughout the electoral cycle and fostering the conditions for broader democratic strengthening.
“The United Nations is a strong supporter of the declaration of principles for international election observations. The UN is also pleased to offer support in facilitating exchanges of its experiences and good practices in electoral observations among regional organisations as is demonstrated in this event today,” the UN representative said.
Stressing the importance of electoral integrity for democracy, he said that the roundtable discussion offers electoral management bodies an opportunity to reflect on their roles in enhancing the credibility and trustworthiness of electoral processes in the Caribbean and beyond, while fostering mutual understanding.
He noted that electoral observations should not only ensure procedural transparency, but they should also involve all citizens, including women, who have faced barriers in political engagement.
