BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Election Observation Mission (CEOM), which observed Wednesday’s general election in Barbados, is recommending the decentralisation of the vote-counting process in the country.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley led her ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to an unprecedented third consecutive 30-nil whitewash of the opposition in the general election that she had called at least one year ahead of the constitutional deadline.
The CEOM was among two foreign observer teams invited for the first time in Barbados’ electoral history to observe the elections. The other is the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat.
In its preliminary report, the three-member CEOM team comprising senior electoral officials from Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Jamaica, recommended that “the counting of votes at the individual polling stations could be considered to facilitate the more efficient tabulation and transmission of results and reduce logistical risks.
“This would also minimize the need for the recruitment of additional poll workers and security officers,” CEOM said, noting that the counting of the ballots took place in accordance with the law.
“Once received by the Returning Officer at the counting centres and after the completion of all administrative procedures, including the addition of special votes to their specific ballot boxes, the counting teams were assigned various boxes.
“Ballot boxes were counted simultaneously and in the presence of agents of the political parties. Once completed and verified by the Returning Officers and the agents, the results were then transmitted to the media.”
CEOM said that while the process was transparent, it “noted that the centralised transport and counting of ballot boxes contributed to a lengthy tabulation period which could be optimised for future elections”.
Wednesday’s election took place amid concerns regarding the electoral list, with the leader of the main opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Ralph Thorne among persons who claimed that he was unable to cast a ballot because his name was not on the list for the constituency where he has lived for more than 20 years even though his wife was able to do so.
In its preliminary report, the CEOM said that the Electoral and Boundaries Commission “may wish to review its enumeration and registration process to enhance the management and accuracy of the voters’ list”.
But the regional observer team, whose “comprehensive” final report will be submitted to the CARICOM Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett and shared with the Barbados government and other stakeholders including the wider Barbados public, said nonetheless it is “of the view that on Election Day, electors were generally able to exercise their franchise in a peaceful, orderly, and transparent manner, but noted some minor challenges.
“These challenges were not significant enough to affect the outcome of the elections. The CEO also views that poll staff performed their duties professionally, and they are to be commended for it.
“It is further worth noting that police officers serving at polling locations maintained law and order and exhibited high professionalism in their interactions with electors and stakeholders,” the CEOM said, adding it is their “considered view that the results of the 2026 General Election reflect the will of the people of Barbados”.
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