(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The elections in Saint Lucia are over and the CARICOM Observer Mission congratulates the people of Saint Lucia in their conduct on Election Day. The people have spoken and soon the results of the poll will be made official.

On Election Day, the CARICOM Observer Team spread throughout 17 constituencies of Saint Lucia. The delegation visited hundreds of polling stations and observed the process from the opening of the poll to the counting of ballots. CARICOM is pleased with the way in which the process of voting was conducted and expresses its satisfaction with the logistical arrangements for the conducing of the poll. We are satisfied that on Election Day the poll was conducted in a free and fair manner.

CARICOM congratulates the Electoral Commission for its preparation and execution of the elections and especially would like to recognise the hard work of the Chief Elections Officer and his staff. In addition, the CARICOM Observer Group would like to acknowledge the work of other stakeholders in the process.

Throughout this campaign, the people of Saint Lucia conducted themselves in a dignified manner. The CARICOM Observer group acknowledges, with satisfaction, the efforts of everyone involved in this electoral campaign, from political parties to the media.

The CARICOM Observer Group would like to congratulate the people on the peaceful conduct of the process; we thank the Saint Lucian People for their hospitality and wish you all a Happy Independence and Happy Holidays.