Arrival statement of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) electoral observer mission of Nevis Island Assembly elections 21 january 2013

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was invited by the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to mount a CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission (CEOM) to observe the Nevis Island Assembly Elections.

In response to that invitation, a four member delegation, under the leadership of Chief of Mission, Ms. Pauline Welsh, Director of Legal Affairs, Development and Research, Electoral Office of Jamaica, has arrived to observe the conduct of the taking of the poll.

The other members of the delegation include, Ambassador Rudolph Collins, former Chairman of the Guyana Electoral Commission, Ms Grace–Anne Crichlow, former Deputy Chief of the OAS Special Mission to Strengthen Democracy in Haiti and Ms. Sandiria Hall, Project Officer, Foreign and Community Relations, CARICOM Secretariat.
The Electoral Observer Mission arrived a day ahead of the election and is expected to meet with the members of the Electoral Office of St. Kitts and Nevis and other chief stakeholders of the electoral and political process, including the major political parties.

Members of the Observer Mission will be deployed to observe the conduct of the election in all five (5) constituencies and will endeavour 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 January 24, 2013.

Charlestown, Nevis
January 21, 2013