COMMONWEALTH TO SEND OBSERVERS FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO GENERAL ELECTION
29 November 2000
Commonwealth Observers will be present at the General Election in Trinidad and Tobago to be held on 11 December 2000. Making the announcement today the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Don McKinnon, said that the Group will be led by the Hon Roy MacLaren PC, a former Canadian Cabinet Minister and diplomat. The other Observers will be:
Ms Kalila Chellah-Kunda Executive Director, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP), Zambia
Mr Bill Gray AM Former Electoral Commissioner, Australia
Mrs Myrtle Palacio Chief Election Officer, Belize
Mr Sinha Ratnatunga Editor, Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
Mr Mark Robinson Executive Director, Commonwealth Press Union and former Minister and MP, United Kingdom
The Secretary-General's decision to send an Observer Group follows a request from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. An Assessment Mission from the Commonwealth Secretariat visited Trinidad and Tobago earlier this month and held consultations with the political parties and other groups, which established that there was 'broad support' in the country for the presence of Commonwealth Observers.
The Group will be supported by a five-member team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Special Adviser Mr Carl Dundas. The Observers' Terms of Reference will be as follows:
"The Group is established by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the request of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. It is to observe relevant aspects of the organisation and conduct of the elections scheduled to take place on 11 December 2000, in accordance with the laws of Trinidad and Tobago. It is to consider the various factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole and to determine in its own judgement whether the conditions exist for a free expression of will by the electors and if the results of the elections reflect the wishes of the people.
The Group is to act impartially and independently. It has no executive role; its function is not to supervise but to observe the process as a whole and to form a judgement accordingly. It would also be free to propose to the authorities concerned such action on institutional, procedural and other matters as would assist the holding of such elections.
The Group is to submit its report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will forward it to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the leadership of the political parties taking part in the elections and thereafter to all Commonwealth governments".
Note to Editors:
This will be the 32nd Commonwealth Observer Group since October 1990 and the first to Trinidad and Tobago.
The Commonwealth Observer Group will hold a press conference at the Trinidad Hilton Hotel, Port of Spain, at 10.00 a.m. on Monday, 4 December, at which the Chairperson of the Observer Group will make an Arrival Statement. Media organisations are invited to be present.
Further information can be obtained from Christopher Child, Assistant to the Observers, at the Trinidad Hilton Hotel (Tel: + 1 868 624 3211).
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