As part of its commitment to strengthening democracy and good governance, CPA UK regularly carries out and supports election missions across the Commonwealth in its role as secretariat for CPA’s British Islands and Mediterranean Region. Election observance expresses the Commonwealth’s interest and concern in promoting democratic elections within its wider policy of support for democracy, the rule of law and human rights. CPA UK is committed to ensuring a professional approach based on observation of all aspects of the electoral process.

MONTSERRAT ELECTIONS

As part of its commitment to strengthening democracy and good governance, CPA UK has been carrying out short term Election Observation Missions to UK Overseas Territories since 2011. This forms a key part of CPA UK’s role as secretariat for the CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region, currently the only organisation providing Election Observation Missions and Election Assessments to UK Overseas Territories.

These missions are an important democracy strengthening tool, providing objective assessments of election credibility, and setting out a roadmap for increased inclusivity, representation and transparency of electoral processes.

From 11-20 November 2019, The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association BIMR deployed a group of international observers to carry out an independent Election Observation to the Montserrat 2019 General Election. This was the second time observers had been invited to Montserrat, the previous Mission having taken place in September 2014.

While the Mission highlighted that the election - which saw the Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP) take office - was “exemplarily administered with the highest level of transparency, far beyond legal requirements”, 17 recommendations were made to improve elections going forward, some echoing the ones previously made by those who undertook the assessment of the 2014 Legislative Assembly elections.

Recommendations included: extending international conventions, for example the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to Montserrat; ending the practice of printing a number on both the ballot paper and the counterfoil which violates the principle of voter’s secrecy; protecting the right to stand for election for Montserratians by birth and Montserratians by naturalisation as the electoral law currently differentiates between the two; as well as reviving the nascent Electoral Reform Commission.

Hon. Julian Robinson MP stated ahead of the launch of the Mission’s report:

“The elections in Montserrat were free, fair and conducted professionally by the electoral authorities.
We do believe there are areas such as the legal framework, which need to be strengthened and improved to ensure adherence to international obligations and standards for democratic elections.”

While the decision to take these recommendations forward lies with the relevant authorities and the people of Montserrat, the report produced by the Mission sets out a valuable roadmap towards improved compliance of the legal and electoral framework of Montserrat to international standards and practices, all of which contribute to improving democratic representation and inclusion.