CARICOM Election Observers Arrive in Suriname Ahead of General Elections

An 11-member election observation team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has arrived in Suriname ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for Sunday, May 25, 2025. The CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM), led by Dora James, Supervisor of Elections in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, is tasked with providing an independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process.

Political analysts describe the contest as closely contested between Suriname’s two leading parties – the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Progressive Reform Party (VHP) – with recent polls suggesting neither is likely to secure an outright majority, potentially leading to post-election coalition negotiations.

Suriname employs an indirect electoral system: the president must be elected by a two-thirds majority in the 51-member National Assembly. If no candidate achieves this, the vote moves to the broader United People’s Assembly (VVV), comprising over 900 members, where a simple majority suffices.

The CARICOM Secretariat, based in Guyana, confirmed that Suriname invited the mission to observe the electoral process. Since their arrival, observers have met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Ramdin and visited the Command Centre to review election security protocols.

Over the coming days, the team will meet with political parties, civil society organizations, youth and religious groups, Indigenous and Maroon communities, and anti-fraud entities. These consultations aim to assess the pre-election environment and ensure transparency.

On polling day, the CEOM will monitor voting procedures, ballot counting, and result declaration. Throughout the mission, it will gather data on the conduct of election officials, political actors, and other stakeholders to evaluate the overall integrity of the process.

Following the election, the mission will issue a preliminary statement outlining its findings. A comprehensive final report will be submitted to the CARICOM Secretary-General and shared with Surinamese authorities, including the government, opposition leader, and electoral council. It will also be published on the CARICOM website. -(CMC)