The group formed to examine the reform of the Commonwealth has recommended that the bloc play a more meaningful role in the electoral processes of its member countries. Sir Ronald Sanders, a member of the group, revealed that they are advising the Commonwealth to establish a body for democracy and electoral practices to deal specifically with this issue.
A section of the gathering at the regional consultation at Grand Coastal Inn
The Eminent Persons Group (EPG) was established by Commonwealth heads of government at their summit in November 2009 in Trinidad and Tobago. The group’s role is to undertake an order to bring the Commonwealth’s many institutions into a stronger and more effective framework of cooperation, partnership and relevance.
“We have recommended that an academy for democracy and electoral practices be established in the Commonwealth, comprising electoral commissions, political parties, civil society who can send people to be trained so that the process of managing the elections prior and after becomes something people are knowledgeable and involved and follow best practices,” Sir Ronald explained.
He believes that more active involvement, especially at the level of the elections commissions, is necessary; particularly a more holistic response of examining how elections are handled, the capacity of the commissions, and even ensuring that the “transition from one elected government to another is smooth.”
Currently, the Commonwealth’s role during elections in member countries is limited to sending observer missions, and these groups are only sent upon invitation of governments or the elections commissions. The observation of elections is one way in which the Commonwealth Secretariat works to strengthen democracy.
This is one of a set of recommendations that the EPG will be submitting in a report, which is almost complete, to the Commonwealth heads of government due to meet in Perth, Australia.
Other recommendations are relative to climate change, human rights and economic transformation, among other issues. In the meantime, the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC), in collaboration with the Commonwealth Foundation, opened a two- day regional civil society consultation here on June 28.
The consultation, which ends today at the Grand Coastal Inn on the East Coast of Demerara, brought together major players from civil society to discuss key thematic areas. The outputs from the consultation will help to not only inform the civil society position going into Australia for this year’s Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF), but help to build an agenda for strengthening the sector in the region.
Addressing the opening, Sir Ronald explained that the group must present ideas that heads can collectively endorse and implement. “They must be visionary as well as practical; ambitious as well as achievable; standard setting as well as opportunity creating,” the renowned Guyanese consultant noted. However, he stated that these rules will not be binding, since the Commonwealth in a voluntary association of sovereign states.
The EPG has met four times in London, England and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and has received written submissions from 300 organisations.
The Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) will take place from October 25 to 27 in Perth, Western Australia, and will attract 250 participants from across the Commonwealth. The forum is aimed at providing opportunities for learning among and between Commonwealth non-state actors and civil society; exploring emerging Commonwealth issues and identifying innovative, cross- sectoral solutions; and providing a platform for advocacy within the Commonwealth arena.
The forum will be responsive to contemporary Commonwealth themes, and it will provide an opportunity for the airing of issues that have been raised by civil society in the Commonwealth at various gatherings since the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). These will be discussed together with views drawn from regional consultations. These consultations, along with submissions from accredited Commonwealth organisations, will inform the development of a civil society statement that will be shared with governments in the lead-up to the CHOGM, and will be formally presented to them in Perth.
