Barbuda election observer laments administrative challenge to do his job

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The General Secretary of the Free and Fair Election League said he will be taking up the issue of the challenge — that he and a colleague encountered yesterday, after they had travelled to Barbuda to officially observe the Council Elections — with the Antigua & Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC).
George Rick James, who was one of two people on the team, told OBSERVER media that the league was granted observer status but ABEC did not hand over the credentials required in time for them to work without hindrance.
“We were in Barbuda by 1 pm on Sunday and up to that time our two members of the team had not been provided with credentials to allow us access to the polling stations,” he said.
He reported that he and his colleague, Bishop Rolston Jeffery, improvised and took steps to ensure they got the job done given the importance of the process being free and fair of any interference.
“We foiled the attempt to prevent the league from observing the elections. Bishop Jeffrey and [I] decided we would travel to Barbuda nevertheless and use the letter from the Supervisor of Elections which says we have been accorded observer status,” he explained.
 
(More in today’s Daily Observer)

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