SOURCE: Guardian.co.tt– Prime Minister Stuart Young met with the Chief of Mission of the CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM), Ian Hughes, and other members of the observer team at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Wednesday, five days ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s general election.
The eight-member CARICOM team, led by Hughes—Supervisor of Elections in Antigua and Barbuda—has been in the country since Monday and is expected to observe all stages of the electoral process. Other members include senior electoral officials from Jamaica, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Haiti, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
In a statement issued by the CARICOM Secretariat, Hughes said the team welcomed the opportunity to support the democratic process in Trinidad and Tobago and was encouraged by the level of cooperation shown so far. “We appreciate the warm welcome and the access we have been given to meet stakeholders across the political spectrum,” he said.
During the meeting with Young, attended by several Cabinet ministers, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his invitation for the team to observe Monday’s poll. Hughes and his team have already met with the Elections and Boundaries Commission and members of the opposition United National Congress and National Transformation Alliance. Meetings with other political groups and civil society representatives are scheduled ahead of polling day.
On election day, the team will monitor the opening of polling stations, the casting and counting of votes, and the early tabulation of results. A preliminary statement will be issued after the vote, with a final report to be submitted to the CARICOM Secretary-General and shared with key national stakeholders. The mission is expected to depart on April 30.
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