Commonwealth to observe Antigua-Barbuda election

The upcoming general election in Angigua and Barbuda will be observed by a mission from the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma announced on Friday that the Commonwealth will send an observer mission to the Eastern Caribbean state for the June 12 polls, at the invitation of the host government.

Paul East QC, former Attorney General of New Zealand, is to lead the observer mission. Also serving on the mission is Mrs Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo, Commissioner with the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

Commenting on the significance of the 12 June polls, Mr Sharma said: "The upcoming elections represent a further opportunity for the people of Antigua and Barbuda to exercise their democratic right in electing their future leaders.  Elections lie at the very heart of democracy and I am delighted that the Commonwealth will be present to observe this process.”

The mission will consider the pre-electoral environment and election preparations. It will observe proceedings on Election Day, observe the counting of votes and the results process, and will determine whether the elections were conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which the country has committed itself to uphold.

"Where appropriate, it will make recommendations to the Electoral Commission for the future strengthening of the electoral framework," according to the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Commonwealth Observer Mission will be in Antigua and Barbuda from 6 June. The mission will submit its report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will in turn send it to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Electoral Commission of Antigua and Barbuda, political parties and civil society organisations, and eventually to all Commonwealth governments.