Hon Fraser gets his wish! Election observers coming!
Speaking at the campaign launch of Virgin Islands Party candidate for the Eighth District McLloyd O. Walters in Parham Town, East End on May 19, 2015, Hon Fraser said “One thing I want to make clear, and I think there is enough time for it to happen with elections being on June 8, they better have observers here on this territory fast. I take nothing to chance.”
The Governor's Office has since released a statement via Government Informaton Service (GIS) that the VI will receive a team of election observers for the 2015 General Elections.
It said too that the Election Observation Mission (EOM) is being arranged by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR) and that the role of the Observer Mission will be to observe the VI elections and to write a report on its findings.
The statement claimed that the Governor after consultation with Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith and Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE upon the dissolution of the House of Assembly, the Governor was pleased to confirm that an international election observer mission will visit the VI. It said this is a continuing step in promoting transparency and accountability, encouraging good practice, as well as increasing public confidence in the electoral process.
The Governor continued, “I believe that the arrangements which have been put in place for the forthcoming elections in the Virgin Islands are robust and consistent with both the Constitution and the Election Law, and that the elections will be free and fair.” He said that the presence of election observers is one way to validate this.
“Having impartial, experienced observers from an internationally recognised organisation enables us to exchange good practice and maintain the high standards for democracy in the territory,” the statement quotes the Governor as saying.
It said the EOM will consist of a total of six observers and will be in the Territory from May 30 to June 10, 2015. It added that one will be a parliamentarian from the British Islands and Mediterranean region of the CPA. The other observers will be from the Caribbean and Americas region. The Mission will be supported by two Election Analysts and an Election Coordinator, all of whom will also act as observers.
Hon Fraser welcomes decision
Reacting to the Governor’s announcement, Honourable Fraser told this news site today, “I would like to say I welcome the decision to bring in international observers.”
Honourable Fraser said there was a time in the past when international observers were not necessary. “But our elections cycle has become so vicious that we can ill afford to leave anything to chance,” he said, adding that the observers coming will put persons on their guard to make sure “that we do everything right".
He said that he, along with others, were not too pleased with the procedures which were taken during the last elections even though they accepted them. “We do think that things could have been done differently, even though the results might have been the same,” he said.
Honourable Fraser said he wants the international community to credit the territory with good performance dealing with the election process.
Efforts to reach Governor John S. Duncan for a comment proved futile.
19 Responses to “Hon Fraser gets his wish! Election observers coming!”
It had a man in immigration doing" everygbing right" but he was removed. So whats right go do?