NGO coalition asks government to uphold standards, health protocols for June 5 elections in SKN

The NGO Coalition comprising of St. Kitts Christian Council, St. Kitts Evangelical Association and St. Kitts Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, has written to out-going PM Timothy Harris. While the Coalition recognized that Harris asked it very late to observe the June 5, 2020 General Election, it rejected to undertake this task alone.

The Coalition conveyed that it lacked the resources to provide a comprehensive report. However, it demanded that the PM adhere to, “regionally and internationally accepted bench marks of undertaking our electoral process”. It also wants to see CARICOM and OAS participate as observers as well.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party agrees with the Coalition now more than ever before, especially when the government is abusing blatantly the application of the Emergency Regulations to gain unfair advantage.

The Coalition pointed out that in the recent elections held in Suriname, special health protocols were established, and encouraged the government to do the same in the upcoming St. Kitts and Nevis poll.

The Coalition wants the elections to take place in an environment with the “physical presence of independent observers on the ground”.

This position adopted by the NGO Coalition is exemplary, and supports the Opposition’s view of maintaining local, regional and global democratic standards, to significantly strengthen the need for free, fear and free from fear election outcomes in St. Kitts and Nevis.