The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat was invited by way of a letter dated 5 April 2026 from the Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, to deploy an Election Observation Mission to observe the General Elections scheduled for 30 April 2026.
In response, the CARICOM Secretary-General confirmed that the Secretariat would undertake the necessary arrangements for the deployment.
A nine-member team has been deployed to observe the electoral process. The Mission is headed by Ms. Maxine McClean, Member of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Barbados. The other members of the team include:
- Ambassador Felix Gregoire, Chairman, Public Service Commission, Dominica;
- Mr. Rohan Porter, Acting Assistant Director of Elections – Field Operation, Jamaica;
- Mr. Herman St. Helen, Chief Elections Officer, Saint Lucia (Deputy Chief of Mission);
- Ms. Stephanie Bram, Member of the Electoral Bureau, Suriname;
- Ms. Karla Dayton Edwards, Commissioner, Election and Boundaries Commission, Trinidad and Tobago;
The CEOM is supported by the following CARICOM Secretariat Staff:
- Mr. Brian Bellevue, Programme Manager, Foreign and Community Relations;
- Mr. Amos Lindor, Project Officer, Foreign and Community Relations;
- Ms. Denise Morgan, Administrative Assistant, Foreign and Community Relations.
The core team, comprising the Chief of Mission and representatives of the CARICOM Secretariat, arrived in Antigua and Barbuda on 23 April 2026. Meetings are being scheduled with various stakeholders, including government and political party representatives, such as the Prime Minister or his representative, and the Leader of the Opposition or his representative. Additionally, consultations will be held with the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission and the Supervisor of Elections.
The team also expects to meet with a cross-section of representatives from civil society, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, the business community, religious organisations, workers’ representatives, and the media.
On 30 April, the team will observe the electoral process, including preparations for the start of the poll, opening of polling stations, casting of votes, closure of polling stations, counting of ballots, and preparation of the Statement of Poll.
The Mission will also collect information on the results of voting to assist in the quantitative verification of the results; collect qualitative observations regarding the voting process, such as the comportment of the electoral officials and political actors, and on the overall electoral environment; and observe and assess the outcome of the elections and the immediate impact on the social and political environment.
Following the elections, the CEOM will issue a Preliminary Statement on its initial assessment of the electoral process and will subsequently prepare the final Report of the Electoral Observer Mission, to be submitted to the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community. This Report will be shared with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Leader of the Opposition, the Electoral Commission, and published on the CARICOM website.
The Observation Mission will depart Antigua and Barbuda on 3 May 2026.
The CARICOM Election Observation Mission expresses its sincere appreciation to all who will contribute to making the observation exercise a productive one. The importance of the opportunity to support the democratic process in Antigua and Barbuda is clear to the members of the Mission. The entire team expresses its appreciation for the warm welcome and cooperation received since its arrival.