Electoral democracy
Editorial
WITH every new general election in member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) there seems to be the recurring controversy over voter registration and conduct of elections. Among CARICOM states, Guyana is the only country under the previous governments of the now opposition People's National Congress (PNC) known to have acquired the unflattering reputation of institutionalised, methodical electoral malpractices to sustain political power. Controversies have also dogged elections in Jamaica, though nothing of significance to warrant any court overturning the expressed will of the electorate through election petitions. In the Eastern Caribbean, charges of political skullduggery in the voter registration process and claims of unsavoury political influence impacting on the independence of Electoral Commissions or offices have also frequently accompanied some elections. Like Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago has succeeded in acquiring a very healthy reputation in the conduct of free and fair elections. Yet, it also has not escaped charges from time to time, about political manoeuvres by a ruling party to score unfair advantages in preparation for a new election. The right of any people to freely choose their government is integral to democratic governance and should not be in any way be minimised or frustrated. Securing and maintaining confidence in national bodies responsible for the conduct of elections, including compilation of the electoral register, is absolutely necessary for ensuring electoral democracy. It has often been suggested that a practical way to increase national confidence in electoral democracy would be to create a standing regional mechanism, with clearly defined functions, to cooperate in a supervisory role with national bodies in the conduct of elections. Indeed, CARICOM governments had joined with other states of the Commonwealth in endorsing recommendations of a Commonwealth Consultative Group back in 1985 in The Bahamas on enhancing democratic and human rights procedures in the promotion of internal cohesion. The Commonwealth Study Group, on which the Caribbean was well represented, in considering how to effectively sustain democracy in small states, had pointed to the advantages of regional mechanisms at the administrative, electoral and judicial levels. One such mechanism proposed and accepted as part of the package at that Commonwealth Summit called for the establishment of Regional Elections Commissions. Also, for regional and or Commonwealth observers to monitor, as a matter of policy, national elections in member nations of the Commonwealth. Having such a regional body to work along with national elections commissions could only enhance confidence without in any way diminishing the national sovereignty of member states of the Community, all of which claim commitment to electoral democracy and good governance. There are highly qualified citizens in this country and elsewhere in the Community with the expertise and integrity to serve on a standing Regional Elections Commission. Now that a Caribbean Court of Justice is to come on stream in a year's time, served by a proposed Judicial and Legal Services Commission, there seems to be no good reason why there should not also be established a Regional Elections Commission to assist in the conduct of national elections. (Reprinted from yesterday's Trinidad Guardian.)
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