Gov't welcomes OAS election monitors

CASTRIES (CMC):

The St Lucia Government yesterday welcomed elections monitors from the Organisation of American States (OAS), CARICOM and the Commonwealth Secretariat who arrived in the country this week ahead of the November 28 poll.

"The presence of the monitoring teams should assist in confirming the integrity of our democratic traditions and to ensure a measure of openness and transparency," a government statement said.

"It is the hope of Government that the presence of the elections monitors would minimise contention and encourage acceptance of the outcome of the general elections."

The teams will conduct a series of meetings with representatives of the Electoral Commission, Civil Society Organisations and the main political parties prior to next Monday's poll.

The elections monitors are in St Lucia in response to an invitation from Prime Minister Stephenson King.