The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government of Suriname today signed the agreement on privileges and immunities for the deployment of an Electoral Observation Mission for the country's upcoming general elections on May 25.
At the end of the signing ceremony, held at the headquarters of the hemispheric organization in Washington, D.C., the Permanent Representative of Suriname, Jan Marten Willem Schalkwijk, expressed on behalf of his government "sincere appreciation to the Secretary General for his continued commitment to strengthening democratic governance across our region. This electoral observation mission is not only welcome, but its presence will also significantly contribute to fostering public confidence and reinforcing institutional trust throughout the electoral process." He further added that "the signing of this agreement also reflects Suriname's enduring commitment to transparency, accountability, and the principles enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter."
For his part, the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, said the signing of the agreement "guarantees the autonomy and independence of the OAS mission, which will be composed of a team of international observers and specialists." He also thanked the Government of Suriname "for its openness and collaboration towards the success of our electoral observation mission."
During the general elections, more than 900 representatives will be elected, including members of the National Assembly and local district councils. The first election in Suriname under democratic rule was held in 1987, and since then, the OAS has observed eight electoral processes in the country.
Reference: FNE-144298
