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OAS Permanent Council Concludes Debate on Inter-American Democratic Charter and Receives Report on Local Election in Nevis

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) today concluded the debate of ideas on the Inter-American Democratic Charter and received the verbal report of the Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) that accompanied the Nevis Island Assembly elections held on July 11.

The debate on the Charter, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last September 11, was focused on Chapters IV (Strengthening and Preservation of Democratic Institutions), V (Democracy and Electoral Observation Missions) and VI (Promotion of a Democratic Culture). Previous chapters were debated at meetings on May 4, June 29, August 2, and August 31.


At today’s meeting, the Permanent Council agreed to request the General Secretariat for a document containing all proposals formulated during the debates, in order to move forward with the process. “We have an obligation to present a report to the General Assembly, and this dialogue has a purpose, that being improving how the Inter-American Democratic Charter is applied. Writing a synthesis would be appropriate and from there on Governments can decide what their position is and how to act in the future,” Secretary General Insulza said in supporting the proposal.

The delegations of Haiti, Dominican Republic, Chile, Brazil, México, United States, Canada, Uruguay, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina and Nicaragua took the floor during today’s deliberations.

The dialogue on the Inter-American Democratic Charter held by the Permanent Council during several sessions responds to a mandate issued in resolution 2555 of the 40th OAS General Assembly, in 2010, in Lima. In resolutive 14, the text instructs the Council to “organize and carry out a dialogue on the effectiveness of the implementation of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and to submit the results and/or progress of the same during 2011, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its adoption.”

At the same regular session of the Permanent Council, the Chief of the EOM in Nevis, Paul Spencer, highlighted that this was the first time that the OAS observed a local election in the Caribbean, and the second deployment of an electoral observation mission in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. In regards to the electoral process, he noted the high turnout and peaceful exercise of the right to vote by the people of Nevis” as well as the dedication and commitment of the poll workers.

The report pointed out that all polling stations opened on time, all necessary materials were present, and the poll workers and party agents were present. Likewise, it highlighted the improved distribution of voters through polling stations in accordance with the OAS observations made in the 2010 general elections in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Chief of the EOM also indicated some issues that need to be fixed such as the lack of efficient procedures that contributed to significant wait times for voters; complaints regarding the preparation of the voter registry, and the procedures for objections and claims leading to the addition and removal of names and the dissemination of updated lists that according to the Mission “caused controversy and concerns.”

In terms of gender participation, the Mission indicated the “significant gender imbalance in roles related to the electoral process," and reported that while women were highly involved in the lower levels of the process, only one female candidate out of ten was presented to voters.

The Chief of Mission said that after the official announcement of the results, the EOM received reports of demonstrations and a candidate who contested the results, “arguing that they were undue because of the procedurally flawed and allegedly illegal removal of 233 voters from the electoral lists." “The Mission continues to recognize the importance of adherence to established due process for the resolution of challenges," he said, and called on all parties to continue to air their claims and objections through the appropriate channels “to further strengthen confidence in the Nevisian democratic processes.”

In terms of recommendations, the Chief of Mission called for improving and clarifying procedures for the conformation of the voter registration list; to revise and update the electoral legal framework; to increase stakeholder engagement in the electoral process and therefore, ensure “an equitable and credible electoral competition”, to establish mechanisms to promote female candidacies; and to promote an enhanced voter information campaign that would instill voter confidence in the process, and “reduce the amount of confusion surrounding electoral procedures.”

The Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the OAS, Ambassador Jacinth Lorna Henry-Martin, expressed her country’s appreciation of the work done by the electoral Observations Missions and informed that her delegation "has taken note of the observations recorded by the Mission," and assured that authorities have taken them on board and will be guided accordingly. Ambassador Henry-Martin reiterated her government’s request to the OAS for assistance in the implementation of a civil registry system that considered “would aid, correct, and simplify the management of information and will be a step towards a broadest participation of all citizens.”

The Permanent Council also decided to accept the application of the Republic of Malta to become the 67th Permanent Observer of the OAS. Secretary General Insulza welcomed the European country, thanked all Permanents Observers for their contributions to the Organization and recalled that the OAS was “the first international organization that created the Permanent Observer category."

The status of OAS Permanent Observer was established during the General Assembly held in San José, Costa Rica, in 1971. Permanent Observers participate in all of the Organization’s activities and contribute to its programs.

The Permanent Representatives decided as well to convene a Special Session of the OAS General Assembly to consider and approve the OAS Program-Budget for 2012. The meeting will take place on October 31 at OAS Headquarters in Washington, DC.

During the meeting at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, the President of the Colombian national standards Organization (INCONTEC), Hector Arango Gaviria, presented the ISO quality certificates to the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the OAS. The three certifications-Integral and Environmental Management, safety, and Occupational Health-give account of the Mission's quality in providing services and efficient resource management. The recognition was proposed as an incentive to foster management systems in other nations of the hemisphere and to promote quality management in the public sector as a tool for competitiveness.

The Mexican delegation also made a presentation to the Permanent Council regarding the 16th Pan-American Games, to be held in Guadalajara October 14-30 with the participation of more than 6,000 athletes in 36 disciplines. The Permanent Representative of Mexico to the OAS, Joel Antonio Hernández García, invited all countries to attend the Games, and on behalf of his country said “it is an honor to host the Pan-American Games, an event that will bring our peoples together around sport.”

The Director of Coordinator between the Mexican Government and the Games’ Organizing Committee, Rafael Medina, promised to host “the best Pan-American Games ever," and explained that his making the presentation at the OAS “announces that the youth of the Hemisphere will come together in Guadalajara as one force of spirit and faith.” “Mexico is a great nation that is very much looking forward to hosting you,” he concluded.

The Permanent Council closed the meeting with a minute of silence in memory of George Cadle Price, former Primer Minister of Belize, who passed away recently.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-848/11