Antigua and Barbuda’s Supervisor of Elections, Ian S. Hughes, will lead the Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) Election Observer Mission to Trinidad and Tobago’s general elections scheduled for April 28.
The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Fee (ABEC) confirmed that Hughes has been appointed CARICOM’s Chief of Mission, tasked with overseeing the delegation’s operations and guaranteeing that the mission adheres to its Phrases of Reference.
The CARICOM crew will observe the ultimate phases of preparations earlier than the polls open, have interaction with key stakeholders to evaluate the state of electoral readiness, and monitor the voting course of on election day. The crew may also acquire qualitative insights on the conduct of electoral officers, political representatives, and the overall political environment.
Within the post-election section, Hughes will information the crew’s evaluation of the election outcomes and the instant results on the nation’s social and political local weather. On the conclusion of the mission, he’ll ship an official assertion on behalf of CARICOM and put together the ultimate report for submission to the Authorities of Trinidad and Tobago.
This isn’t Hughes’ first time on the helm of a CARICOM commentary mission. He beforehand led the delegation for the 2021 normal elections in The Bahamas, and has participated in related efforts in Turks and Caicos (2021), Belize and Suriname (2020), and Haiti (2015).
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The Commonwealth and the US-based Carter Heart are additionally anticipated to deploy observer groups for Trinidad and Tobago’s election, through which 161 candidates representing 17 political events will contest the 41 parliamentary seats.
Observers say the race is prone to come all the way down to a contest between the incumbent Folks’s Nationwide Motion (PNM) and a coalition led by the opposition United Nationwide Congress (UNC).
