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Antigua and Barbuda has taken a leading role in regional election oversight, with Ian S. Hughes, Supervisor of Elections at the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, appointed as Chief of Mission for the CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to Saint Lucia. The updated details were confirmed in a new CARICOM statement released on 26 November 2025, outlining the mission’s mandate and activities ahead of the island’s 1 December general election.
The eleven-member delegation was deployed at the request of the Government of Saint Lucia following an invitation dated 11 November. Observers will remain in the country from 24 November to 3 December, assessing the pre-election environment and the conduct of the polls.
CARICOM’s newly released statement emphasises that the mission is now fully rolling out its programme, with the Core Group — including Hughes and two CARICOM Secretariat officials — already on the ground since 24 and 25 November. The remaining observers are expected to be in place by 27 November.
The team includes senior electoral officials from nine CARICOM Member States, representing The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. They will be supported by CARICOM Secretariat staff tasked with administration and logistics.
Since arriving, the CEOM has met with Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet. In the coming days, the observers will meet with Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, the Electoral Commission, the Supervisor of Elections, the Commissioner of Police, and representatives of civil society, political parties and the media. These engagements will help determine the level of preparedness and the overall pre-election climate.
On Election Day, the team will monitor the full electoral exercise — from the opening of polling stations and the casting of ballots to the close of polls and the counting of votes. CARICOM notes that the observers will also assess the immediate post-election atmosphere.
A Preliminary Statement will be issued on 3 December before the delegation departs, with a more detailed final report to follow. That report will be submitted to CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett and later made public.
Hughes, leading the mission on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda, said the team appreciates the warm cooperation received so far and reaffirmed CARICOM’s commitment to supporting credible, transparent elections across the region.
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