Elections

Electoral College: The people who ultimately pick the US president

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 16:10:01 +0000

Electoral College: The people who ultimately pick the US president admin Mon, 12/14/2020 - 16:10

Monday, December 14, 2020

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Original Article

Electoral College: The people who ultimately pick the US president

BBC Reprint By Sam CabralBBC News, Washington US election 2020 The US presidential election was five weeks ago, but the votes that officially anoint the next president are just about to be cast. When Americans go to the polls in presidential elections, they are not directly voting for president. They are actually voting for a […]

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Caribbean

International observers will be in Grenada for 23 June General Elections

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 23:20:01 +0000

International observers will be in Grenada for 23 June General Elections

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 23:20

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

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Politics | NOW Grenada

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International observers will be in Grenada for 23 June General Elections

Prime Minister, Dr the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell has confirmed that international observers will be in Grenada for the June 23 poll.

Election observer missions will be mounted by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the Organisation of American States (OAS), which responded positively to invitations extended by the Prime Minister following his announcement of the election date.

In his letters, Dr Mitchell said, “The independent observation of elections lends transparency and confidence to the electoral process.”

He noted that while Grenada can boast of having very strong democratic institutions, it is important and necessary that the conduct of the election process be observed and monitored by well-respected and credible organisations, particularly those which continue to be advocates for democracy and the strengthening and preservation of democratic institutions in the hemisphere.

The OAS letter of acceptance stated that “The OAS remains committed to strengthening electoral processes in the Americas, through its observation and technical assistance efforts, and looks forward to working with the authorities of Grenada towards this end.”

In accepting the invitation, Caricom informed that the necessary arrangements are already being put in place to facilitate the work of the election observation mission.

Both organisations have mounted observer missions to monitor previous general elections in Grenada.

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Politics

Grenada’s Election Cycles 1990–2022 Part 1

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 23:00:02 +0000

Grenada’s Election Cycles 1990–2022 Part 1

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 23:00

Monday, June 13, 2022

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Politics | NOW Grenada

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Grenada’s Election Cycles 1990–2022 Part 1

by Keith Ventour

Some sections of our Nation have received the new NDC political leader and, by extension, the new NDC executive with profound exuberance, excitement and expectations.

To put the current resurgence in the NDC into proper historical context we need to go back to the 1990s. It is well known that for some time the NDC has been in a state of disarray and disorganisation.

In the 1990 election, the Nicholas Brathwaite-led NDC was able to secure 7 seats with GULP candidate Edzel Thomas crossing the floor to help form the first NDC government. The actual results were NDC 7 seats, GULP 4 seats, NNP 2 seats, and the Ben Jones TNP 2 seats.

The 1995 elections saw the emergence of Keith Mitchell’s leadership when the NNP won outright with 8 seats and formed the first NNP government with Dr Mitchell as Prime Minister. The results were NNP 8 seats, NDC 5 seats and GULP 2 seats. It was in this period that the NDC’s leadership problems began under the well loved and respected educator, George Ignatius Brizan who was later succeeded by Joan Purcell.

The next 4 years saw the demise of the NDC and the rise of a shrewd politician in Dr Keith Mitchell, and a dominant political party in the NNP. The election results from 1990 to 1999, show that NNP was able to move its votes from 6,916 in 1990 to 25,897 in 1999. This represents a massive 274% increase or 18,981 votes. On the contrary, NDC lost 3,241 votes, declining from 13,637 to 10,396 votes, a drop of 22%.

The 1999 elections resulted in the first 15-0 defeat of the NDC. The Joan Purcell-led NDC was decimated! They only contested 12 of the 15 seats and captured just 25.1% of the ballots cast to the NNP’s 62.5%. The party leadership was incapacitated and demoralised.

Following this period Grenada saw the first of 2 rebirths of the NDC. With the likes of Peter David, Nazim V Burke, George Prime, and the late Dr David Lambert, all products of the 1970s anti-Gary struggles, the NJM and the Grenada Revolution. A new life, new vigour, new energies and expectations were injected into this DORMANT group. The party now became a kaleidoscope of individuals of diverse ages, interests, and aspirations, coupled with similarly diverse political and intellectual backgrounds. In hindsight, I may say, the party was doomed to fail because, in practice, it became an ALLIANCE of several trends and factions united in one common purpose, the defeat of Dr Keith Mitchell.

What happened in the ensuing 4 years was an unprecedented comeback. This was due to the hard, gruelling work put in by those individuals in rebuilding the party structures and going on the ground in the villages to meet and discourse with the people. They brought to the NDC their strong organisational skills and experience from before and during the Grenada Revolution. They led the mass mobilisation of support for the NDC.

I must say, Tilman Thomas became the natural successor by default, to Joan Purcell. Despite some inherent weaknesses, he was able to command internal party support and respect. This made him into the spiritual centre of the party, in holding the new coalition forces together and at the same time having a national appeal. The result of the 2003 elections was a defining moment in the character of these two leaders and ultimately that of their political parties. Keith Mitchell’s NNP amassed 8 seats while Tilman Thomas’ NDC won 7 seats. It was the closest election in our history with the NNP crossing the tape by a mere 7 ballots in the constituency of Carriacou & Petite Martinique.

More significantly, this has been the ONLY occasion in our political history that the NNP LOST votes. 3,331 LESS ballots were cast for the NNP than in 1999. A 13% reduction in its mass base. On the other hand, NDC more than DOUBLED its votes, moving from 10,396 to 21,445!

Between 2003 and the 2008 elections, NDC consolidated and further enhanced its gains from the previous election amassing just over 29,000 votes. The “Wind of change” which began in 2003 swept through the country in 2008. The result was NDC increasing its vote by 35% and securing an impressive 11-4 seats landslide victory; the only time it had ever won an election outright, to form the government on its own.

Notwithstanding this decisive 2008 victory, there are a few observations to be highlighted.

It was the first time the NDC was able to secure more than one seat in the Parish of St Andrew, winning 3 seats
It was the first and only time ever that the NDC received more than 24,000 votes, actually 29,007
Many saw this as overwhelming support for the NDC but this was undoubtedly an anti-Keith Mitchell vote
Despite its loss, the NNP still gained 4,622 ballots (a 20% increase in its votes) to narrow the difference in the popular vote to 1,818, a small 3.2% margin. Actual votes received were 27,189
It is absolutely clear that without the active support and assistance of the Left, it was impossible for the NDC to rebuild and triumph between 2000 and 2008

Many characterised the winning of the 2008 elections as a mini 13 March 1979. Persons from all walks of life came out to celebrate the NDC victory.

However, with the victory at the polls, and the seat of power thus achieved, the aforementioned diverse interests and aspirations came alive. There began a jostling for control of power and policy among the Left and other forces within the NDC. The focus was lost; the vision and the mission disappeared. It was like déjà vu again.

Caribbean

Politics

Grenada and OAS formalise agreement for election observer mission

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 02:50:01 +0000

Grenada and OAS formalise agreement for election observer mission

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 02:50

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

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NOW Grenada

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Grenada and OAS formalise agreement for election observer mission

Grenada has formalised an agreement with the Organisation of American States (OAS) to observe general elections on 23 June.

This will be the eighth electoral observer mission mounted by the OAS to Grenada.

Grenada’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, HE Yolande Smith, signed the agreement last Friday with Secretary-General of the hemispheric institution Luis Almagro.

At the signing, Ambassador Smith reiterated the sentiments expressed by Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell who had previously underscored Government’s support for the transparency of the electoral process and the inherent value of having the overseas missions observe the process, particularly organisations like the OAS, which continues to advocate for democracy and the strengthening of our institutions within the hemisphere.

An OAS press release quotes the Secretary-General as saying “The agreement we are signing today is an indispensable tool for the Mission to fulfill its functions. I congratulate you, Ambassador Smith and your government, for your democratic conviction and for the openness shown in inviting an Electoral Observation Mission for the upcoming general elections.”

The OAS observer mission will be led by Dr Rosina Wiltshire, a former United Nations Resident Coordinator, and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative for Barbados and the OECS.

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Grenada’s Election Cycles 1990–2022 Part 2

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 02:40:01 +0000

Grenada’s Election Cycles 1990–2022 Part 2

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 02:40

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

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NOW Grenada

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Grenada’s Election Cycles 1990–2022 Part 2

by Keith Ventour

In my previous Part 1 essay, I have already provided the data which shows the growth/decline support between the two parties.

In carving my overall analysis, I have taken into account, what I refer to as mass base numbers. It is clear that since 1995, the Keith Mitchell-led NNP has consistently grown its mass base, with the exception of 2003 when they lost 3,331 votes. On the contrary, the only occasions that NDC has had any meaningful growth were the periods 2003 and 2008. Since then, they have failed badly in increasing their support base. Given this imperative data, I contend that on Election Day, both parties, NNP and NDC, will start with 30,000 and 22,000 sure votes respectively. In selecting the election date, Dr Mitchell and the NNP would have scientifically crunched the numbers and therefore felt confident and satisfied enough, that they had the necessary votes to win the 23 June election. In the final analysis, it is left up to the voters to decide whether they are ‘fed up’ with Dr Keith Mitchell, as in 2003 and 2008 and to put all their confidence and trust in the new NDC leadership led by the newcomer and lawyer, Dickon Mitchell.

It is interesting to analyse the data regarding registered voter turnout (RVT) in the post invasion era. While the 2013 turnout was an unprecedented high 88.58%, the average voter turnout over the past 8 general elections was 71.21%; over the last 4 elections it was 74.64%; and 80.39% over the last 3 elections. It is my view, the 2013 percentage turnout was skewed because several thousand persons did NOT register to vote then. In fact, from the Parliamentary Elections Office data, there was actually a 13.38% REDUCTION (9,602 less) in registered voters, compared with 2008. Had the 2013 registered voters list remained close to 2008, the turnout would have been around 76%.

The new voter’s registration list published in the last week shows there is now an additional 9,528 new registered voters in 2022. If on 23 June, the RVT increases by about 5%, that is 78%, there will be about 68,000 persons casting their vote. If the above voting trend remains consistent, this will mean approximately 19,000 persons (22%), will not vote again as in 2018. If the percentage for actual votes between the 2 parties hold to a similar 60/40 ratio as in the last 2 elections, NNP will win handsomely again. If, however, there is a 50/50 split in actual voting, the result will be a close call. This will mean that NNP would marginally increase its 2022 votes as it did in 2018 and also NDC would pull off an unprecedented turnaround of more than 10,500 votes or 18%. I also hold the view that for the NDC to have a chance to win at least 1-2 seats, the voter turnout has to be between 75-80%. A higher/lower voter turnout should benefit NDC/NNP respectively.

I hasten to point out that in 2018, there were 5 seats where the NDC had a net gain over the NNP. In other words, more persons voted for the NDC than the NNP in 2018 compared with 2013. They were the 3 marginal seats, Carriacou, St George NE and St David, together with St George South and, interestingly, St George NW, Dr Mitchell’s constituency. It is also noteworthy that in the constituency of St Mark, less persons voted for Dr Clarice Modeste-Curwen as compared with 2013. It is left to be seen if this trend continues in both constituencies on 23 June. If so, I will refer to it as Parliamentary Representative Fatigue.

The new data released by the Parliamentary Elections Office shows 12 constituencies with an average of 468 new registered voters, 2 with an average of 1539, St David and South St George and 1 with 833 votes, the Town of St George. In 2018 out of the 15 constituencies, NNP won five by over 600 votes, five between 375 and 500 and 2 less than 200 votes. This new dynamic should be off grave concern to the NDC leadership for it requires a deeper resolve, and a greater challenge in overturning the aforementioned numbers. My personal view is that it will be extremely difficult to defeat the NNP in these constituencies. The other 3 constituencies, St Andrew SE, St Mark and St George NW were won by significant margins of over 1,000 votes and therefore should be considered as foregone conclusions.

I caution those who believe Dr Keith Mitchell is desperate and out of character as he uses waggish humour to great effect. I humbly believe it is a conscious, cynical and strategic move on his part to firstly, attract the youthful voters and secondly, most importantly, in doing whatever it takes to formalise his legacy by winning 3 consecutive 15-0 victories at the polls.

The following are my predictions for the 23 June General Elections. In 2018 there were 3 Marginal seats of less than 6% plus or minus 2% in which NDC lost to the NNP.

Carriacou and Petite Martinique: difference 170 votes

It is possible NDC could win Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Tevin Andrews has been around since before 2013. He was the candidate in 2018 and was able to erode a 600-plus deficit in 2013 to 170 in 2018. If this trend continues, we may see

Carriacou changing party allegiance in 2022. On the other hand, if the NNP was able to mend their differences experienced with Kindra Maturine-Stewart in 2018 and have consolidated since, they stand a compelling chance to win this seat.

St George NE: difference 127 votes

Caribbean

Any aspirant fundraising after December 9 will be locked out of 2022 election: Chebukati

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:50:01 +0000

Any aspirant fundraising after December 9 will be locked out of 2022 election: Chebukati

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admin Sat, 12/11/2021 - 07:50

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

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Kenya – Capital News

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Any aspirant fundraising after December 9 will be locked out of 2022 election: …

NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 8 – Aspirants seeking seats in the 2022 election have until December 9 to do fundraising.

The Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati said anyone violating the law will be locked out of the electionn.

“Aspirants cannot participate in fundraising either by themselves or proxies within eight months to the election period, being December 9, 2021. The import being to curb aspirants from influencing voters by donating funds and monies for support,” he stated.

Speaking Wednesday during a Power to Serve Prayer Service organized by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) in Limuru, Chebukati warned that any candidate who violates the directive risks being disqualified from taking part in the elections.

Section 26 of the Elections Act provides that a person may be disqualified if he or she directly or indirectly participates in any manner in public fundraising or harambee within eight months to a general election or during an election period.

Citing Section 26 sub-section (2) of the Act, Chebukati said aspirants or participating political parties are allowed to hold harambees to raise money for their campaigns.

Chebukati has at the same time announced that the Commission will hold another voter registration exercise in January, and after that the process will be closed for cleanup of the register in February.

In many areas around the country, a candidate’s worth has been gauged on his or her ability to contribute towards various public projects, a culture that was perpetuated during former President Daniel arap Moi’s 24-year rule.

Churches have become some of the biggest beneficiaries of donations from candidates running for various political seats.

Deputy President William Ruto, who is known for his generous contributions to churches and women and youth welfare groups, has come under sharp criticism from Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga and his allies over the source of the millions he donates to churches every weekend.

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Africa

News

Georgia’s Raffensperger says Trump’s defeat is the ‘cold hard truth,’ hints at probe

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:50:01 +0000

Georgia’s Raffensperger says Trump’s defeat is the ‘cold hard truth,’ hints at probe admin Mon, 01/11/2021 - 21:50

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

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The Montserrat Reporter

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Georgia’s Raffensperger says Trump’s defeat is the ‘cold hard truth,’ hints at …

Jan. 5, 2021, 2:41 The Republican secretary of state also said the call from Trump could warrant an investigation into possible conflicts of interest.01:29 /03:07 ‘What he said was not factually correct’: Georgia secretary of state on Trump phone call ‘What he said was not factually correct’: Georgia secretary of state on Trump phone call […]

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Live Updates: Trump’s Allies Will Make Last Stand in Congress

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:50:01 +0000

Live Updates: Trump’s Allies Will Make Last Stand in Congress admin Mon, 01/11/2021 - 21:50

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

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The Montserrat Reporter

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Live Updates: Trump’s Allies Will Make Last Stand in Congress

Reprint – (Adapted) Jan. 6, 2021, 1:31 p.m. The Presidential Transition liveWatch With AnalysisLatest UpdatesProtesters GatherGarland for Attorney GeneralBiden’s Cabinet Vice President Mike Pence told President Trump that he did not believe he had the power to block certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in Congress today. RIGHT NOW Here’s what you need to know: […]

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Biden win confirmed after pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:50:01 +0000

Biden win confirmed after pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol admin Mon, 01/11/2021 - 21:50

Thursday, January 7, 2021

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The Montserrat Reporter

Original Article

Biden win confirmed after pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol

Reprint – (Adapted) By LISA MASCARO, ERIC TUCKER, MARY CLARE JALONICK, and ANDREW TAYLOR Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., read the final certification of Electoral College votes cast in November’s presidential election during a joint session of Congress after working through the night, at the Capitol in Washington, […]

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Culture
News

The USA finally, new President Joe Biden

admin — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 02:10:01 +0000

The USA finally, new President Joe Biden admin Sun, 12/20/2020 - 02:10

Saturday, December 19, 2020

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The Montserrat Reporter

Original Article

The USA finally, new President Joe Biden

Heralding in first woman of colour Vice President Kamala Harris By Bennette Roach from reports President and Vice President elect – Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Besides not having the resources to publish a print copy of the newspaper, publishing the news of the result of the US 2020 Presidential election online was difficult. This […]

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