The Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, has written to Hon. Prime Minister Stephenson King, formally requesting him to invite observers to monitor the General Elections scheduled to be held this year.

For the General Elections of 2006, the former SLP Administration invited Observer Missions from the OAS and CARICOM.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition indicated that the SLP is “making no imputation at this time as to the inevitability of any major infractions, interferences or possible abuses in the conduct of the elections, or any weaknesses in the functioning” of the Electoral Commission.

This does not, says the SLP, “mean that we do not have anxieties and concerns about the management of the elections. We have in the past complained about the buying of voters on Election Day contrary to the Electoral Act, the shifting of voters to vote in constituencies in which they do not reside as happened in the constituency of Choiseul in the last General Elections.”

The full text of the letter reads as follows:

Dear Prime Minister,

As we approach the period when General Elections are required to be held, I write to indicate the position of the St Lucia Labour Party that it would be appropriate, as is becoming increasingly customary in the Commonwealth and elsewhere, to invite Observer Missions from at least the Caricom Secretariat and the Organisation of American States to monitor the conduct of our General Elections.

In doing so, the St Lucia Labour Party is making no imputation at this time as to inevitability of any major infractions, interferences or possible abuses in the conduct of the elections, or any weaknesses in the functioning of our own institution mandated by our Constitution to prepare for and oversee the election process.

We take the view, however, that it will enhance both popular confidence and the standing of our country in the region and in the international community if, in this era of openness, we follow what is now becoming almost standard practice, and open our electoral process to international scrutiny. In addition, our country must always stand ready to acknowledge any impartial post-election suggestions for improvement of our system from persons or groups with recognized expertise in these matters, as has been the case with many other constitutional democracies.

I hope that you will be willing to agree to this proposal and put in place the necessary requirements for ensuring the presence of the relevant Observer Missions.

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