Suriname elections an ‘example for Caribbean’
by Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Monday, May 30, 2005
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: CARICOM Election
Observers have commended the electoral officials and the Surinamese people for
“their responsible behaviour and the maturity displayed, which undoubtedly
reflect their confidence in the electoral process and commitment to democratic
principles”.
Polling day in the general elections in
Suriname on Wednesday May 25 was characterized by calm, good humour and
friendliness between supporters and agents of opposing parties outside the
polling stations, said chief of mission Clem John Friday at a press conference
in the Surinamese capital Paramaribo.
According to mission coordinator Eugene
Petty, the Surinamese people set an example for the rest of the Caribbean. “We
also noticed the camaraderie, the good relationship between the agents of the
opposing parties. This lends itself well for the function of democracy,” the
CARICOM official noted. “Actually we were very impressed, because this is
unlike other countries in the Caribbean where it is like a war between
opposing parties. And the friendliness we saw expressed and exchanges of good
humour between the agents and supporters of the parties are admirable.”
In a statement released on Friday, the CARICOM team said the chairperson and
other officials in the polling stations carried out their duties in a
competent and professional manner, and with impartiality.
“Transparency of the voting process was
ensured, an adequate number of poll booths were provided and secrecy of the
ballot was respected, except in a few cases where it was observed that some
over zealous officers took the ballot paper from voters, opened and folded
them in the prescribed manner,” the statement read.
Some minor issues were the slowness of the counting of the ballots and it was
difficult, the monitors said, to verify or see the mark on the ballot against
the name of the candidate for whom the voter cast his or her ballot, as
announced by the chairperson. “It is the view of the six-member delegation
that by making provision for agents to sit in the polling stations to closely
monitor the counting process and the provision of adequate lightning
facilities, these measures could enhance the process and ensure greater
transparency”.
The monitors covered five electoral
districts and were present at about 70 percent of the polling stations in
these areas. The team therefore had the opportunity to make a reasonable
assessment of the electoral process. The CARICOM mission also met and
exchanged notes with the Organization of American States (OAS) Observer Group.
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