BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – STARRET GREENE, the OAS representative to St. Kitts-Nevis, confirmed that his organisation would be sending a team of observers to monitor the upcoming general election.
“[The OAS] was invited to observe the forthcoming election and we welcome the opportunity to do so, because it represents us giving our support to the people of the Federation as they go into an important phase of their political development,” Greene revealed. “As soon as the bell rings, we will be on alert.”
The diplomat could not provide details as to the composition and size of the team, but did reassure that there would be a “sufficient number” to provide adequate coverage of the Federation’s 11 constituencies.
According to the OAS website, the OAS has sent observer missions to more than 140 electoral processes within the hemisphere. The size of these teams is determined through a statistical sample based on the number of locales and voters in a country.
After each mission, the team’s chief will present a summary of the activities carried out and a series of recommendations aimed at improving the country’s electoral laws to country authorities and to other OAS member states.
Greene noted that St. Kitts-Nevis maintained a permanent mission to the OAS in Washington DC, which he called a reaffirmation of his belief that “democracy was entrenched” in the Federation. He spoke extensively about the importance of democratic, fair and free elections.
“As part of the continued efforts of the OAS to promote and strengthen democracy, we believe the holding of elections, and the holding of free and fair elections, to be a central pillar in our democracy. We see these elections as being essential to strengthening democracy. We see it as a means to demonstrate our support for the electoral process and we also want to be witness to a very important political process.”
He added that the OAS would continue to work with its member countries in support of their electoral processes.
In outlining the politically-oriented projects his office had helped implement, Greene divulged that they had been centred on promoting the participation of women in politics. He explained that this was because there was “a growing sense” that the role of women in government should be expanded.
“One of the activities we held over the past years was a series of courses aimed at women that focused on democracy, human rights and freedom. They were held over a period of time, and I think we succeeded in highlighting how women can become involved in the political process and how they themselves can seek political office and become an important part of the governance structure.”
Greene pointed to Marcella Liburd, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party’s political candidate for Constituency Number Two in the 2010 elections, as evidence that the OAS’ woman-based programmes were “bearing fruit”.
