Arrival Statement - CARICOM Election Observation Mission to SVG

CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION TO ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

GENERAL ELECTIONS, 5 NOVEMBER 2020

ARRIVAL STATEMENT

By way of letter dated 7 October 2020, the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines invited the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to field a mission to observe the General Elections which will be held on 5 November 2020.

In response, a six (6) member CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM)is now in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to observe the General Elections.

The Mission is headed by Mr. Anthonyson S. King, member of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, who has also served as a member of CARICOM Election Observation Missions to other CARCIOM Member States.  The other members of the Mission are:

• Ms. Contance Madeline Blackman (Antigua and Barbuda);
• Mr. Henson Ricardo Carlisle Alleyne (Barbados);
• H.E. Felix Gregoire (Dominica);
• H.E. Ambrose George (Dominica); and
• H.E. Arley Gill (Grenada).

A Core Group including Mr. King arrived in the country on 31 October 2020 with the other members arriving over the period 2 to 3 November 2020. The observers will meet with the electoral process stakeholders, monitor the pre-election environment and observe the elections. They will depart St. Vincent and the Grenadines over the period 7 to 8 November 2020.

Since arriving in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Core Group met with, among others, Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition; Rev. Adolph Davis, President of the Christian Council; Mr. Oswald Robinson, President of the Union of Teachers of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and Mr. Colin John, Commissioner of Police.  As part of the precautionary measures with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of the appointments have been conducted virtually.

On the day of Elections, the Mission will monitor activities including the Opening of the Poll, the Voting Process, Close of Poll and Tallying of the ballots.

The following day the Mission will issue a Preliminary Statement based on its observations to be followed later by a full report to H.E. Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community.

The CARICOM Election Observation Mission values the opportunity to contribute to the democratic process in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and appreciates the high-level of support and cooperation received since its arrival in the country.

ANTHONYSON S. KING

CHIEF OF MISSION

4 NOVEMBER 2020