SVG election conducted without ‘major incident’ – OAS report

The Final Report of the Organization of American States (OAS) electoral observation mission dispatched last December for SVG’s general election has concluded that the process was “without any major incident.”

The final report was released earlier this week, and was based on observations noted by the visiting OAS mission – led by Jacinth Henry-Martin, then Chief of Staff to the OAS Secretary General.{{more}}

However, the final report did offer six recommendations that could “serve to enhance the electoral processes in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines”.

The first recommendation was that of a continued updating of the Voters List and the promotion of voter education.

The report stated: “The Mission encourages the Electoral Authorities to continue updating and cleansing the Voters List, and further recommends that the voters list also include the photograph of each citizen, so that the identification process is easy and immediate…

“Likewise, the authorities should pursue a more active and focused voter education program in the months leading up to and during the electoral cycle. The media and certain other key stakeholders should be invited to participate… in a meaningful way.”

The second recommendation is the establishment of an independent elections commission.

“…consideration be given to the establishment of an Independent Electoral Management Body, whose membership should be comprised of independent actors with a strong technical focus… Such a body ought to be endowed with a structure and a range of powers that will speak to its autonomy and independence.”

The third recommendation pertains to campaign finance, and the report stated: “Issues of equity are critical in any modern democracy… There is a danger that moneyed interests (individual, private or State) will continue to have a substantial and unfair influence on the outcome of an election.

“Modern legislation on election spending is required… The Mission therefore reiterates the recommendation of the 2010 OAS/EOM Report that political parties, electoral bodies and civil society consider the OAS’s draft model legislation on political party and election financing.”

The fourth recommendation outlined a need for the promotion of greater gender equity in elective politics; noting that women “occupy a significant space in the electoral process” yet this was not reflected in the number of female candidates who sought elected office.

“The Mission recommends that consideration be given to developing legal mechanisms that ensure women are incorporated on the ballot, promote training programs for female political leaders and strengthen civil society organizations working to promote women’s civil and political rights.”

The fifth recommendation is for standardized procedures and training for poll workers.

“Further training is needed for staff at all levels of the electoral machinery to address the variations noted in the various steps of the process. Proper observation of the rules and procedures will ensure that the will of the electorate is fully respected, thereby reducing the perception of fraud.”

The final recommendation called for improved voting facilities.

“Some polling sites contained multiple polling stations in relatively cramped areas. The topographic and physical nature of some polling sites also presented difficulties for access by the physically challenged and the elderly.”

Additionally, the final report mentioned that the OAS team attended the final recount in the Central Leeward constituency “based on concerns expressed by political parties about irregular activities on Election Day and at the preliminary count on the evening of December 9.”

The observers noted that there were several issues during this final recount. Namely, incorrect application of seals; absence of presiding officer’s stamp and initials on some ballots; and the partiality of the Returning Officer (Winston Gaymes) in favour of the ULP candidate and agents.

However, the final report concluded that, notwithstanding the aforementioned issues, the OAS observers did “not discern any fraudulent or other activities at the Final Count which could have materially affected the outcome of the vote in which the ULP candidate won by 313 votes.”

The report also stated that the issues “strongly indicate” a need for further training in rules and procedures for staff at all levels of the electoral machinery.

The OAS Mission to SVG was comprised of 13 observers from 11 countries. They observed electoral processes in 14 of the 15 country’s constituencies, visiting 74 percent of the polling stations.

This is the fourth election that the OAS has observed locally.

The full report may be downloaded from: http://searchlight.vc/clients/searchlight/OASreportonSVG2015elections2pdf.pdf