Commonwealth Expert Team says St Kitts and Nevis Election credible, but reforms needed

The Expert Team was sent to St Kitts and Nevis by the Commonwealth Secretary-General , Don McKinnon, who said:

"The judgement of this Expert Team is that the General Election was credible and that the result reflected the will of those who voted. At the same time, the report recommends reform in a number of key areas.

These include the arrangements for voter registration, the identification of voters, balance in media reporting and the demarcation of constituencies.

I hope that the Government and the Electoral Commission will give serious consideration to the Report's recommendations. The Commonwealth Secretariat stands ready to help."

The decision to send the Expert Team followed an invitation from the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis .

Note to Editors:

The Team observed the preparations for the General Election, the polling, counting and results process, and the overall electoral environment.

The members of the Team were:

Hon David Thompson MP (Team Leader) Member of Parliament, former Leader of the Opposition, former Minister of Finance , Barbados

Mr James Morrison Member of the Association of Electoral Administrator s and former Returning Officer, United Kingdom

The Experts were supported by Commonwealth Secretariat staff Ms Juliet Solomon and Ms Charlene Lee-Ling.

The members of the Expert Team began work on 19 October and remained in St Kitts and Nevis until 28 October 2004. Their report was then submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General , who subsequently sent it to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, the political parties and Commonwealth Governments. The full text of the Report of the Expert Team is available here. Printed copies are also available from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The members of the Team were invited in their individual capacities and it was made clear in advance that the views they expressed regarding the General Election would be their own and not those either of their respective Governments or of the Commonwealth Secretariat.