ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda’s Supervisor of Elections, Ian. S. Hughes will lead a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Observer mission to Trinidad and Tobago’s April 28 general elections.
The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) confirmed that Hughes was named CARICOM’s Chief of Mission. Hughes will provide leadership and guidance to the CARICOM Election Observer Mission within the context of the mission’s Terms of Reference.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Supervisor of Elections, Ian. S. Hughes
The CARICOM delegation will observe the final preparations before the elections, hold discussions with the various stakeholders on the progress towards the process, observe the electoral process on the day of elections, and collect qualitative observations regarding preparations, the comportment of the electoral officials and political actors, and the overall political environment.
In the post-election phase, he will lead the CARICOM team in observing and assessing the election outcome and its immediate impact on the social and political environment.
At the end of the mission, Hughes will issue an official statement on behalf of CARICOM on the process and prepare and submit the Report of the CARICOM Observation Mission to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago National and Parliamentary Elections.
This is not the first time that Hughes has served on a CARICOM Observer Mission. He was appointed as CARICOM’s Chief of Mission to the 2021 elections in the Bahamas and also served as a member of the Observer team during the Parliamentary Elections in Turks and Caicos in 2021, Belize and Suriname in 2020, and Haiti in 2015.
The Commonwealth and the US-based Carter Center are also expected to send observer teams to Trinidad and Tobago’s polls. There, 161 candidates representing 17 political parties are vying for control of the 41-member Parliament.
However, observers say the elections will be contested between the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and a coalition led by the main opposition United National Congress (UNC).
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