The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, and the Interim Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Organization, Kemoy Liburd Chow, today signed the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities for the Electoral Observation Mission that will be present for the 2011 Nevis Island Assembly Elections on July 11.
During the signing ceremony, Liburd Chow expressed her country’s appreciation for the OAS by affirming that “we commend the OAS for its continued service and efforts to promote democracy in the hemisphere.”
Secretary General Insulza, who recently visited the country, explained that the observation missions “have become a very good practice at the OAS, and we are very thankful with the government for extending an invitation to observe these elections.” Secretary General Insulza designated Paul Spencer as the Chief of Mission. Spencer is an Advisor to the OAS Secretary General from Antigua and Barbuda.
The OAS mission will be composed of five observers who will cover all of the constituencies and polling centers in Nevis. The group of international observers will arrive in the country on July 6th, and will meet with representatives of political parties and government officials prior to observing the polls. At the end of the mission, a report will be presented before the Organization’s Permanent Council.
The agreement signed today is the first habitual step toward guaranteeing that the Electoral Observation Mission can conduct its work appropriately. The Procedural Agreement, to be signed in the near future, will define with further details the access and basic rules of the observers’ visit.
Full Article: South Florida Caribbean News.