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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
The Bahamas welcomed a team of electoral observers from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to observe its General Elections on May 7, 2012. A press conference was held Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where purpose of the mission was outlined. Pictured from left are Casper Jn. Baptiste, CARICOM; Orrette Fisher, CARICOM; and Errol Bethel, Bahamas Parliamentary Commissioner.
(BIS Photo/Kris Ingraham)
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NASSAU, The
Bahamas - The Bahamas welcomed a team of electoral observers from the
Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) to observe its General Elections on May 7, 2012.
An
agreement was signed between The Bahamas Parliamentary Registration
Department and the General Secretariat of the OAS on the Electoral
Observation Process. It established the scope and coverage of the
electoral observation mission in question.
The
Bahamas has guaranteed conditions of security, free access to
information and full cooperation with the electoral observation
mission. The teams have also been granted permission to visit with
leaders of the political parties and members of Civil Society who can
give further insight into The Bahamas' electoral process.
The
CARICOM observers have also been granted the same latitude. However the
OAS entered into a formal agreement in accordance with the principles
and norms of the organisation. The OAS has a team of 18 and CARICOM a
team of 10.
The
mission may inform the Parliamentary Registration Department about any
irregularities and or interference which the mission might observe or,
of which the mission might learn. And similarly, the mission may request
that the Parliamentary Registration Department provide any information
regarding the measures which the department will take in relation to
such irregularities.
It
is the first time The Bahamas has invited international observers to
monitor its General Election. The Governor-General issued the
invitation.
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A signing ceremony for the agreement and two separate press conferences
were held Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
where details of the missions were outlined.
Parliamentary
Commissioner Errol Bethel said he was pleased to welcome the teams and
that the department will do its best to cooperate with them.
Alfonso
Quiñonez, Chief of Mission of the Electoral Observation Mission of the
OAS said that the organisation was also pleased to have been invited to
observe The Bahamas General Election. He stressed that the team’s
purpose is to observe and not judge or interfere with the process.
Orrette
Fisher, head of the CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission too said that
its purpose it to file any weaknesses in the process, look at the level
of transparency, and the level of public trust and confidence in the
system.
Alfonso Quiñonez, Chief of Mission of the Electoral Observation Mission of the OAS, right, pays a Courtesy Call on Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Brent Symonette at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, May 2, 2012.
(BIS Photo/Kris Ingraham)
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Both
teams commended The Bahamas for having a voter turn out of more than 90
percent, the highest in any other jurisdiction observed. Both teams
also hope to cooperate with each other during their missions.
At the end of the Election Day May 7, both teams will submit a report
of their findings to the OAS Secretariat and CARICOM Secretariat,
respectively. The OAS observer mission is commemorating 50 years of
Election Observer Missions of the OAS. It has carried out about 164
observer missions in 26 OAS member states.
An Agreement was signed between The Bahamas Parliamentary Registration Department and The General Secretariat of the Organisation of American States on the Electoral Observation Process of the 2012 General Elections in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, during a press conference Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pictured from left are Alfonso Quiñonez, Chief of Mission of the Electoral Observation Mission of the OAS; and Errol Bethel, Bahamas Parliamentary Commissioner.
(BIS Photo/Kris Ingraham)
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© Copyright 2012 by thebahamasweekly.com
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