OAS to observe Grenada general election, with mission led by St Kitts and Nevis diplomat
Former St Kitts and Nevis ambassador Sherry Tross will lead the Organization of American States' ninth electoral observation mission to Grenada for the November 5 poll.
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada. The Organization of American States (OAS) has signed an agreement with the government of Grenada to observe the country's November 5 general election.
The OAS said the agreement on "the privileges and immunities" of its Electoral Observation Mission was signed on Friday, October 23, at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, by Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin and Grenada's Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Tarlie Francis.
The mission will be led by Sherry Tross, a former ambassador of St Kitts and Nevis.
Quality over size
Ramdin highlighted Grenada's commitment to democracy and the strength of its electoral processes, the OAS said.
"It is not the size of the country that matters, but the quality of its elections and the value they hold for its people," he said.
He said the mission would present a report with observations and recommendations "aimed at further strengthening the Caribbean nation's democratic institutions and processes".
Ambassador Francis reaffirmed Grenada's commitment to constitutional democracy, the rule of law and electoral transparency, according to the OAS.
"Independent electoral observation has become a very important part of the inter-American democratic tradition," he said. "Its value lies in the impartiality of the observers, the integrity of their assessments, and the opportunities their findings provide for institutional learning and continuous improvement."
Ninth mission
The OAS said it has observed electoral processes in Grenada since 1984. This will be the hemispheric body's ninth Electoral Observation Mission to the country.
