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This country’s Ambassador to Cuba, Mr. Ellsworth John, who led a CARICOM Observer Mission to the recently held Presidential and State Legislative Council Elections in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, has reported that the mission was satisfied that the elections were conducted efficiently and in a fair and transparent manner.

 In a media briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018, Ambassador John said all registered voters who wanted to exercise their right to vote participated in a peaceful and accommodating environment.  He said based on the process observed, the mission is satisfied that the results of the elections reflect the will of the majority of voters in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

According to Ambassador John, the observer mission recommended the introduction of a distinctive dress or uniform for those officials responsible for the conduct of the poll in the polling stations to distinguish them from voters, observers and the media; that all campaigning should end before election day as persons were observed chanting at one polling station on election day and that registered voter’s lists be placed in locations where they are protected from the elements. They also recommended that the font on the list of registered voters be improved. 

Ambassador John noted that the observer mission which arrived in Venezuela on May 17th, 2018, held meetings with the National Electoral Council and President of the Supreme Court, among others and visited 40 polling booths. 

The observer mission comprised: Ambassador Anthony Liverpool, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Felix Gregoire, Ambassador of Dominica to CARIOM and Senator Chester Humphrey, Trade Unionist and President of the Senate in Grenada.

Presidential and State Legislative Council elections were held in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on May 20th, 2018.  To this end, representatives from several countries were on hand to observe the voting process at the “invitation of the National Electoral Council of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.

SOURCE: API