Alvina Reynolds is the leader of the election observation mission sent by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region, heading a team of seven which includes members of parliament from Scotland and Montserrat, as well as two election experts and three staff members from the CPA UK branch.
Miss Reynolds has contested two elections in her home of St Lucia and is currently president of its senate.
‘We look at the election process pre-election day, what’s happening on the ground with candidates, what’s happening with the voters, the process, the system and what is in place for smooth elections on the day,’ she said.
‘It’s important to know it’s not it’s not about comparing the elections in Guernsey with the UK and anywhere in the world,’ said election analyst Mark Stevens.
‘It is never about comparing one election to another.’
Not all of the team are in the island yet, with more due to arrive on Saturday, but those who are have already attended a hustings on Monday.
‘I found it very interesting that the constituents came out in good number,’ said Miss Reynolds.
‘Each person got a chance to answer every question that was posed during the time that we were there for about two hours, and the range of issues that were raised were very interesting and a very respectable atmosphere.’
Attending hustings forms a part of the group’s remit, looking at whether or not there is freedom of expression and how engaged the voters are, and she said this provided context. Although this is the second time the election in Guernsey has been observed by the CPA BIMR, it will be the first time it is done in person – the 2020 election was observed remotely due to Covid-19 restrictions.
On both occasions the group was invited by the States’ Assembly and Constitution Committee.
It will publish a preliminary statement on 20 June with its initial findings and a final report will appear two months later with its detailed recommendations and findings.
The observers will be visiting all the polling stations several times during the day and anyone who wishes to share their experience of the process can approach them in person or email cpabimr@parliament.uk.
Find out more on X @CPA_BIMR or by looking for the tag #ElectionMissionGuernsey.
You need to be logged in to comment. If you had an account on our previous site, you can migrate your old account and comment profile to this site by visiting this page and entering the email address for your old account. We'll then send you an email with a link to follow to complete the process.