WASHINGTON, DC, USA (CMC) – The Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organisation of American States (OAS) deployed in the Bahamas for the May 2017 general election on Wednesday presented its report to the Permanent Council of the organisation, highlighting the “openness and cooperation” of authorities, parties, civic groups and the people of the country, and presented recommendations to improve processes.

Chief of mission, OAS Ombudsperson Sherry Tross, congratulated the Bahamas “on the steps it has taken to provide access to the vote to eligible citizens who live abroad and those who are unable to attend their polling place” on election day.

Tross noted that in the meetings of the mission with a wide range of actors, key concerns shared with the mission included the state of preparedness of the Parliamentary Registration Department (PRD) and the appointment of a new parliamentary commissioner just days before the general election.

Tross said these issues “combined to create a sense of unease among stakeholders”.

She noted the “professional and competent fashion” in which the new commissioner and the staff of the PRD “ensured the successful completion of the elections”, according to the OAS.

The mission recommended clarification regarding those who are eligible to participate in the advanced poll, putting in place new procedures to avoid a transition between parliamentary commissioners during the electoral process, digitising registration procedures and moving toward the use of biometric voter cards, and improving voter education.

The mission also recommended enhancing the impartiality of the boundary drawing process, adopting a legal framework on campaign finance; and developing programmes to promote women’s participation and leadership in politics.

The mission comprised 11 international experts and observers from eight OAS member states.

The OAS said the team analysed key aspects of the electoral process, including electoral organization, electoral technology, constituency boundaries, political finance, gender equity and relevant political developments.

Following the presentation of the report, the Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the OAS, Sidney Staley Collie, said his Government will earnest and soberly review the report and, where deemed practical, make the necessary reforms predicated on lessons learned, international best practices and recommendations offered therein.

“We look to the OAS for continued support in the never-ending work to perfect and strengthen our democracy,” he added.