OAS Observation Mission Coming for General Election

An agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the Organization of American States (OAS) Electoral Observation Mission to Jamaica for the 2016 General Election on February 25, was signed at the OAS Headquarters in Washington D.C., on Thursday, February 11.

It was signed by Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Ralph Thomas, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, and the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro Lemes.

In his remarks, Ambassador Thomas highlighted the importance of the presence of the OAS Mission to Jamaica. He thanked the OAS for its commitment to the democratic process across the region, and also donors for their support of the OAS effort.

For his part, the OAS Secretary General said this will be the third OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Jamaica since 2007. He thanked Argentina, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America for their financial contributions.

The Mission will comprise 21 observers from the Americas, who will be deployed in all 14 parishes across the country before, during and after the elections. Chief of  the Mission will be Mrs. Janet Bostwick, a former Foreign Minister of The Bahamas.

Members will arrive in Jamaica next week and will be liaising with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica as they seek to carry out their functions.

Ambassador Thomas was accompanied by Jamaica’s Alternate Representative to the OAS, Julia Hyatt.

Also present at the signing were the Ambassadors of Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Honduras and members of the Mission.