Former prime minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, has been appointed to lead a Commonwealth observer group for The Bahamas’ general election scheduled for May 12, 2026.

The appointment was made by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey, following an invitation from Prime Minister Philip Davis.

The full composition of the Commonwealth observer group includes Golding as chairperson; Josephine Tamai, chief elections officer of Belize; Orin Gordon, a Guyanese journalist; and Estelle Thadea Alaine George, legal and electoral expert, Saint Lucia.

Announcing the appointment, the secretary-general expressed her appreciation to Golding for accepting the role and acknowledged the commitment of members of the observer group.

“Credible and transparent elections are fundamental to democratic governance. The Commonwealth observer group plays an important role in reinforcing public confidence in electoral processes and supporting member countries in upholding their democratic commitments,” Botchwey said in a release on Thursday.

The observer group will be supported by a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Professor Michelle Scobie, head and adviser for Good Offices and the Caribbean and Americas Section.

During their time in-country, the observer group will observe all aspects of the electoral process and assess whether the elections are conducted in line with the democratic standards and commitments upheld by the Commonwealth of Nations, the release said.

The group is expected to arrive on May 4 and will issue an arrival statement shortly after, outlining its mandate and methodology for the observation mission.