(Commonwealth)_ A Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) will be deployed to Trinidad and Tobago to observe the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for 28 April 2025. The deployment reflects the Commonwealth’s ongoing commitment to promoting democracy, transparency, and good governance among its member states. The observation team will be led by Hon. Evarist Bartolo, the former Foreign Affairs Minister of Malta, who brings over three decades of parliamentary experience to the role. He will be joined by six distinguished experts from across the Commonwealth, each bringing specialized knowledge in areas such as law, media, civil society, and electoral management.
The primary role of the observer group is to monitor all phases of the electoral process, from the pre-election environment to election day procedures and the post-election period. Their objective is to provide a thorough and impartial assessment of the electoral process and offer constructive recommendations to support the enhancement of electoral integrity in Trinidad and Tobago. The announcement of the group’s deployment was made in London by the Commonwealth Secretariat. This initiative demonstrates the Commonwealth’s established role in supporting democratic systems and institutions. The observer mission serves as part of a broader effort to ensure member states adhere to the democratic standards and values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.
The team will begin its work in Trinidad and Tobago on 22 April 2025. Upon arrival, the observers are scheduled to meet with a variety of key stakeholders. These include the country’s election management body, political parties, civil society organizations, media representatives, the diplomatic community, and other regional or domestic election observers. These preliminary meetings are aimed at gaining a comprehensive understanding of the local electoral context and identifying any challenges or concerns related to the conduct of the elections.
Beginning on 26 April, the observers will be deployed in small teams across different regions of the country. This decentralised deployment will enable the group to assess the preparedness of the electoral process at the local level and engage directly with regional stakeholders. Their field visits are expected to cover a representative cross-section of the nation, ensuring that the observation is both balanced and inclusive.
On election day, the Commonwealth Observer Group will monitor the full electoral process, including the opening of polling stations, the casting of votes, the closing procedures, the counting of ballots, and the transmission and management of results. Following their observations, the team will issue an interim statement detailing their preliminary findings, which is scheduled to be released on 30 April.
The mandate of the observer group includes evaluating whether the elections are conducted in accordance with both domestic legislation and the broader democratic commitments made by Trinidad and Tobago. This encompasses regional standards, international norms, and the democratic principles endorsed by the Commonwealth itself. The observers aim to provide an informed and independent judgment on the overall credibility, inclusivity, and transparency of the electoral process. Their assessment will help promote public confidence in the elections and encourage ongoing democratic development within the country.
Supporting the work of the Commonwealth Observer Group is a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat. This support team is led by Lindiwe Maleleka, a political adviser within the secretariat’s electoral support section. They will provide logistical, technical, and administrative assistance to ensure the smooth functioning of the mission. The Commonwealth has a long-standing tradition of deploying observer groups to monitor elections across its 56 member countries. Through these efforts, the organization seeks to foster democratic practices, encourage electoral integrity, and strengthen the capacity of member states to uphold the rule of law and political accountability. As Trinidad and Tobago prepares to head to the polls, the presence of the Commonwealth Observer Group serves as a reaffirmation of the country’s commitment to democratic values and transparent governance.
