Above: the signing ceremony in Washington, DC (OAS Photo Maria Patricia Leiva)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Organization of American States and the government of Antigua and Barbuda have signed an agreement on an electoral observation mission for the country’s upcoming national elections.

The two sides signed an agreement this week on the privileges and immunities of the members of the missions, which will be present during the as-yet-unscheduled vote.

The agreement “reflects the measures to safeguard the independence of the observers in the exercise of their functions, and determines the nature of the cooperation between the members of the mission and the national authorities,” according to a statement from the Organization of American States.

This year will be the second time the OAS has sent an electoral observation mission to Antigua and Barbuda, following the country’s 2009 elections.

“The EOM will be installed approximately one week prior to the elections and its work will include issues related to the observation of electoral justice, gender equity, political financing and the conditions of equality and transparency of the process,” said OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza.

Last February, Antigua Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer officially invited the OAS to send an electoral observation mission.

This year’s election will pick 17 members of the country’s Parliament.