The Caribbean Community has deployed a 12-member election observer mission to The Bahamas ahead of the country’s general election scheduled for May 12.
The mission, organized by the CARICOM Secretariat, was deployed following an invitation from Cynthia A. Pratt, governor-general of The Bahamas.
The team is being led by Herman St. Helen, chief elections officer of Saint Lucia. Serving as deputy chief of mission is Debra Hughes, chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Barbados.
Other members of the delegation include election and public service officials from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.
According to CARICOM, the observer mission will conduct an impartial assessment of the electoral process, including the pre-election and post-election environment, political conduct and election-day procedures.
The mission’s core group arrived in The Bahamas on May 5, while the remaining members are expected to arrive between May 7 and 8. The delegation is scheduled to remain in the country through May 15.
Ahead of election day, the observer team is expected to meet with government officials, opposition leaders, political parties, independent candidates, civil society organizations and election officials.
CARICOM said the team has already met with Shanta Emily Knowles, commissioner of police, as well as youth organizations and members of the media.
On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting process, ballot counting and preparation of official poll statements.
Following the election, the mission will issue a preliminary statement outlining its initial assessment before preparing a final report to be submitted to the CARICOM secretary-general. The report will also be shared with the Bahamian government, opposition and the Parliamentary Registration Department, and published on CARICOM’s website.
