OAS Thanked for Reinforcing Democratic Process in St. Kitts and Nevis
Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 07, 2022 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has recorded its deepest appreciation to the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation for its “gold-standard electoral observation” of the Federation’s General Elections of Friday, August 05, 2022.
“My country places the highest value on the expert recommendations of the observer team, and commits to working towards their implementation so that the democratic foundation of my country continues to be strengthened, and the overall electoral processes in my country moored in the tenets of democracy and good governance,” said St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, while addressing the 52nd Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Thursday, October 06, 2022. “My government extends our gratitude to the governments of Peru, the United States of America, Italy and the Netherlands for their financial contributions towards the mission.”
Foreign Minister Douglas said that the OAS has “excelled in its role of catalyst in fostering an appreciation for how seamlessly development, human rights, and security underpin our democracies.”
The Organization of American States deployed an Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the General Elections scheduled for August 05, 2022. The Mission, which was headed by former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding, comprised 11 experts and observers from nine different countries of the region, who worked in-person and remotely to observe areas such as electoral organization and technology, electoral justice, political finance and the political participation of women.
The Mission began its initial deployment on July 30. They met with government officials, electoral authorities, political leaders, candidates, representatives of civil society and other relevant stakeholders.
This is the fourth time that the OAS deployed an EOM in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Following the elections, the Mission presented a preliminary report with its observations, along with recommendations that will seek to support the continued strengthening of the electoral process in the country.