The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has officially deployed a specialized Election Observation Mission to monitor Barbados’ upcoming General Election scheduled for February 11, 2026. This three-member expert team arrived in Barbados on February 5th following a formal invitation from the Barbadian government dated January 27, 2026.
The mission comprises senior electoral officials from across the Caribbean region, led by Chief of Mission Mr. Ian S. Hughes, Supervisor of Elections from Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission. The delegation includes Deputy Chief of Mission Ms. Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer of Belize, and Mr. Andrew Smith, Regional Manager from Jamaica’s Electoral Commission. Administrative support is provided by three CARICOM Secretariat staff members specializing in community relations and logistics.
Since their arrival, the observation team has initiated critical meetings with key stakeholders including Barbados Commissioner of Police, religious representatives from the Barbados Christian Council, and media organizations. The mission plans further consultations with Prime Minister Mia Amor Motley, Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne, Electoral Commission Chair Ramon Alleyne, and Chief Electoral Officer Sherland Turton in the coming days.
The comprehensive observation strategy will include monitoring all phases of the electoral process. On election day, the team will assess polling station operations from opening to closing procedures, vote casting mechanisms, ballot counting processes, and results declaration protocols. The mission will also evaluate the overall electoral environment before, during, and after voting.
Following the election, the CARICOM mission will issue a Preliminary Statement containing initial assessments before departing on February 13th. A comprehensive Final Report detailing findings and recommendations will subsequently be prepared for CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett and eventually made publicly available. The mission expressed gratitude for the warm reception and emphasized its commitment to supporting democratic processes in Barbados.