In response to an invitation from former Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has deployed an Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to monitor Trinidad and Tobago’s upcoming Parliamentary Elections, scheduled for April 28, 2025.
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The request was first extended via letter on December 10, 2024, and confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs on March 19, 2025. Following this, the CARICOM Secretariat, led by Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, confirmed its readiness to facilitate the mission.
An eight-member team of experienced electoral officials and legal experts from across the region has been assembled for the mission. The CEOM is headed by Mr. Ian Hughes, Supervisor of Elections for Antigua and Barbuda. The Deputy Chief of Mission is Ms. Dora James, Supervisor of Elections for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The full observer team includes:
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Mr. Ramon Orlando Alleyne, Chairman of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Barbados
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Ms. Fatima Elizabeth Gordon, Supervisor of Registering Officers in Belize
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Ms. Maureen John-Xavier, Attorney-at-Law from Saint Lucia
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Mr. Andrew Anthony Smith, Regional Manager at the Electoral Commission of Jamaica
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Ms. Schnaida Adely, Vice-President of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council
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H.E. Felix Gregoire, Chairman of the Public Service Commission in Dominica
The CARICOM Secretariat is also providing support through a staff team that includes Ms. Angella Prendergast, Director of Foreign and Community Relations; Ms. Shae-Alicia Lewis, Programme Manager, Community Relations; Mr. Irvin Brown, Project Officer, Foreign and Community Relations; and Ms. Serojnie Seetaram, Senior Secretary, Foreign and Community Relations.
The core mission team arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on April 21, 2025, and has since been actively engaging with key stakeholders. These meetings have included sessions with the Chief Elections Officer, the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the United National Congress leadership, and the National Transformation Alliance. Additional meetings with political parties and civil society groups are scheduled ahead of election day.
On April 28, the CEOM will observe all phases of the electoral process—from the opening of polling stations to the casting and counting of ballots. The team will gather both quantitative and qualitative data, assessing not only the technical administration of the election but also the conduct of political actors and the general electoral environment.
Following the vote, the Mission will issue a Preliminary Statement summarizing its initial findings. A comprehensive Final Report will be submitted to the CARICOM Secretary-General and shared with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Elections and Boundaries Commission.
The CEOM is scheduled to conclude its duties and depart Trinidad and Tobago on April 30, 2025.
