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ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL RAMDIN ARRIVING IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES SUNDAY LEADING OAS ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION

  December 2, 2005


The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, arrives in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday, December 4, to lead a team of observers for the December 7 general elections. This electoral observation mission is comprised of a total of five members from Barbados, Colombia, Suriname and the United States. The mission is scheduled to depart on Friday, December 9.

In the period prior to the observation of the December 7 elections, a full schedule of courtesy calls and meetings has been programmed by the Chief of Mission with the intention of receiving information, views and opinions from a wide range of participants in the electoral process in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

On election day itself, the OAS mission will observe the voting process in several constituencies, from the opening to the closing of the various polling stations. The mission will also observe the vote counting process. Observers will also be present for the final count of the votes on December 8.

The OAS is sending this observation mission to observe this December 7 elections at the invitation of the St Vincent and the Grenadines government. The general objective of the mission is to signal OAS solidarity with the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines as the country continues to consolidate its democratic process.

Electoral observation missions are one of the instruments used by the OAS to contribute to promoting democracy in the hemisphere. Following the elections, the Chief of Mission will present a report on the observation to the Secretary General and to the Permanent Council of the OAS.

This observation mission was made possible through the contributions of the governments of Brazil and the United States.

Reference: E-279/05