OEA - Documento CP ACTA. 2396 25 de 2025

OEA/Ser.G CP/ACTA 2396/22 21 septiembre 2022

ACTA

DE LA SESIÓN ORDINARIA

CELEBRADA

EL 21 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2022

Aprobada en la sesión del 19 de noviembre de 2025

CONSEJO PERMANENTEiii

ÍNDICE

Página

Nómina de los miembros que asistieron a la sesión ..................................................................................1

Aprobación del proyecto de orden del día ................................................................................................3

Informe Final de la Misión de Observación Electoral de la Organización de los Estados Americanos desplegada para las elecciones generales celebras en Santa Lucía el 26 de julio de 2021...... ...................................................................................................5

Informe Final de Misión de Observación Electoral de la Organización de los Estados Americanos desplegada para las elecciones legislativas y municipales celebradas en El Salvador el 28 de febrero de 2021 ............................................................................ 11

Trigésimo Tercer Informe de la Misión de Apoyo al Proceso de Paz en Colombia de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (MAPP/OEA)............................................................ 18

Informes de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos sobre la ejecución del presupuesto del Fondo Regular para el año 2021 y del primer semestre de 2022 e informe final de la evaluación externa del Plan Estratégico 2017-2021....... ..................................... 25

Informe de las actividades de la Comisión sobre Gestión de Cumbres Interamericanas y Participación de la Sociedad Civil en las Actividades de la Organización de los

e informe final de la evaluación externa del Plan Estratégico 2017-2021....... ..................................... 25

Informe de las actividades de la Comisión sobre Gestión de Cumbres Interamericanas y Participación de la Sociedad Civil en las Actividades de la Organización de los Estados Americanos durante el mandato de 2022 ............................................................................... 38

Informe Anual 2021 de la Oficina de la Ombudsperson ......................................................................... 40

Convocatoria para la presentación de candidatos al Comité de Auditoría............................................... 48

Consideración de la solicitud de la República Argentina para la inclusión del tema “Declaración de solidaridad con el pueblo argentino ante el intento de magnicidio sufrido por la Vicepresidenta de la República Argentina” en el proyecto de temario del quincuagésimo segundo período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General ........................... 51

Consideración del proyecto de resolución “Papel prioritario de la Organización de los Estados Americanos en el desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones/Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación a través de la Comisión Interamericana de Telecomunicaciones (CITEL)” a ser considerado por la Asamblea General en su quincuagésimo segundo período ordinario de sesiones .............................................................................................................. 52iv

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Despedida de la Embajadora Anne de la Blache, Observadora Permanente de Francia ante la Organización de los Estados Americanos ........................................................................................ 53

Anuncio de la Presidencia ...................................................................................................................... 64

Otros asuntos .......................................................................................................................................... 64v

DOCUMENTOS CONSIDERADOS EN LA SESIÓN

(SE PUBLICAN POR SEPARADO)

CP/INF. 9467/22, Nota del Secretario General, mediante la cual solicita que en el orden del día de la

Otros asuntos .......................................................................................................................................... 64v

DOCUMENTOS CONSIDERADOS EN LA SESIÓN

(SE PUBLICAN POR SEPARADO)

CP/INF. 9467/22, Nota del Secretario General, mediante la cual solicita que en el orden del día de la sesión ordinaria del Consejo Permanente prevista para el 21 de septiembre de 2022 se incluya la presentación de los Informes Finales de las Misiones de Observación Elect oral de la OEA a las elecciones legislativas y municipales celebradas en El Salvador el 28 de febrero de 2021 y a las elecciones generales celebradas en Santa Lucía el 26 de julio de 2021.

CP/INF. 9477/22, Nota del Secretario General, mediante la cual solicita que el tema “Presentación del Trigésimo Tercer Informe de la Misión de Apoyo al Proceso de Paz en Colombia (MAPP-OEA)” sea incluido en el orden del día de la sesión ordinaria del Consejo Permanente p revista para el 21 de septiembre de 2022.

CP/INF. 9478/22, Nota de la Secretaría Ejecutiva de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) mediante la cual solicita que se incluya la presentación de los informes de la CIDH sobre la ejecución del presupuesto del Fondo Regular para el año 2021 y el primer semestre de 2022 y el informe final de la evaluación externa del Plan Estratégico 2017 -20221 en el orden del día de la sesión ordinaria del Consejo Permanente programada para el 21 de septiembre de 2022.

CP/INF. 9481/22, Nota de la Ombudsperson mediante la que solicita que en el orden del día de la sesión ordinaria del Consejo Permanente, prevista para el 21 de septiembre de 2022, se incluya la

CP/INF. 9481/22, Nota de la Ombudsperson mediante la que solicita que en el orden del día de la sesión ordinaria del Consejo Permanente, prevista para el 21 de septiembre de 2022, se incluya la presentación del Informe Anual 2021 de la Oficina de la Ombudsperson.

CP/INF. 9482/22, Nota de la Presidencia de la Comisión de Asuntos Administrativos y Presupuestarios mediante la que se solicita que el tema “Convocatoria de candidatos al Comité de Auditoría” sea incluido en el orden del día para la próxima sesión ordinaria del Consejo Permanente.

CP/doc. 5804/22, Trigésimo Tercer Informe del Secretario General al Consejo Permanente sobre la Misión de Apoyo al Proceso de Paz en Colombia de la Organización de los Estados Americanos

(MAPP/OEA).

CP/doc. 5806/22, Nota de la Misión Permanente de Colombia mediante la cual, en nombre propio y de las Misiones Permanentes de Argentina, Brasil, Costa Rica, México y Paraguay, remite el proyecto de resolución “Papel Prioritario de la Organización de los Estados Americano s en el Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones/Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación a través de la Comisión Interamericana de Telecomunicaciones (CITEL)” a ser considerado en el quincuagésimo segundo período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General.

CP/doc. 5807/22, Informe Final de la Misión de Observación Electoral de la OEA desplegada en las elecciones legislativas y municipales celebradas en El Salvador el 28 de febrero de 2021.

CP/doc. 5808/22, Informe Final de las Misión de Observación Electoral de la OEA desplegada en las

elecciones legislativas y municipales celebradas en El Salvador el 28 de febrero de 2021.

CP/doc. 5808/22, Informe Final de las Misión de Observación Electoral de la OEA desplegada en las elecciones generales celebradas en Santa Lucía el 26 de julio de 2021.

CP/CISC-1067/22 rev. 1 , Proyecto de resolución “Apoyo y Seguimiento del Proceso de Cumbres de las Américas”.vi

CP/CISC-1068/22 rev. 1, Proyecto de resolución “Aumento y Fortalecimiento de la Participación de la Sociedad Civil en las Actividades de la Organización de los Estados Americanos y en el Proceso de Cumbres de las Américas”.

CP/CISC-1070/22 corr. 1 , Informe de Actividades de la Comisión sobre Gestión de Cumbres Interamericanas y Participación de la Sociedad Civil en las Actividades de la OEA para el período 2022.

AG/CP/doc. 990/22, Nota de la Misión Permanente de Argentina mediante la cual solicita la inclusión del tema “Declaración de solidaridad con el pueblo argentino ante el intento de magnicidio sufrido por la Vicepresidenta de la República Argentina” en el proyecto de temario del quincuagésimo segundo período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General.CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN ORDINARIA

CELEBRADA EL 21 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2022

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las diez y cuatro de la mañana del miércoles 21 de septiembre de 2022, celebró sesión ordinaria el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las diez y cuatro de la mañana del miércoles 21 de septiembre de 2022, celebró sesión ordinaria el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados Americanos. Presidió la sesión la Embajadora Lou-Anne Gaylene Gilchrist, Representante Permanente de San Vicente y las Granadinas y Presidenta del Consejo Permanente. Asistieron los siguientes miembros:

Embajador Josué A. Fiallo Billini, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana y Vicepresidente del Consejo Permanente Embajador Anthony Phillips-Spencer, Representante Permanente de Trinidad y Tobago Embajadora Rita Claverie de Sciolli, Representante Permanente de Guatemala Embajador Noel Anderson Lynch, Representante Permanente de Barbados Embajadora Yolande Yvonne Smith, Representante Permanente de Grenada Embajadora Luz Elena Baños Rivas, Representante Permanente de México Embajador Hugh Adsett, Representante Permanente del Canadá Embajadora María del Carmen Roquebert León, Representante Permanente de Panamá Embajador Carlos Alberto Raimundi, Representante Permanente de la Argentina Embajador Washington Abdala, Representante Permanente del Uruguay Embajadora Alejandra Solano Cabalceta, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica Embajador Lynn Raymond Lynch, Representante Permanente de Belize Embajador Harold Forsyth Mejía, Representante Permanente del Perú Embajador Chet Donovan Neymour, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas Embajadora Elizabeth Darius-Clarke, Representante Permanente de Santa Lucía Embajador Mauricio Montalvo Samaniego, Representante Permanente del Ecuador Embajador Sebastián Kraljevich Chadwick, Representante Permanente de Chile

Embajadora Elizabeth Darius-Clarke, Representante Permanente de Santa Lucía Embajador Mauricio Montalvo Samaniego, Representante Permanente del Ecuador Embajador Sebastián Kraljevich Chadwick, Representante Permanente de Chile Ministro Raúl Mariano Martínez Villalba, Representante Interino del Paraguay Primera Secretaria Judith-Anne Rolle, Representante Interina del Commonwealth de Dominica Ministra Adriana Maldonado, Representante Interina de Colombia Señor Thomas R. Hastings, Representante Interino de los Estados Unidos Ministra Consejera Joy-Dee Davis-Lake, Representante Alterna de Antigua y Barbuda Ministro Consejero Omari Seitu Williams, Representante Alterno de San Vicente y las Granadinas Consejero Pierre Michel Bonnet, Representante Alterno de Haití Ministra Consejera Saira Esmeralda Ponce Rosales, Representante Alterna de Honduras Embajadora Wendy Jeannette Acevedo Castillo, Representante Alterna de El Salvador Segunda Secretaria Juanita Cleopatra Lont, Representante Interina de Suriname Consejero Jason Darcy Fields, Representante Alterno de Guyana Ministra Consejera Cecilia Urquieta Pardo, Representante Alterna de Bolivia Consejera Sonia Rosita Boddie-Thompson, Representante Alterna de Saint Kitts y Nevis Ministro Aurimar Jacobino de Barros Nunes, Representante Alterno del Brasil Señora Nichollete Williams, Representante Alterna de Jamaica Señor Jesús Hernández Contreras, Agregado, Misión Permanente de Venezuela2Estuvo también presente el Secretario General Adjunto, Embajador Nestor Mendez, Secretario del Consejo Permanente.- 3La PRESIDENTA: Good morning, distinguished colleagues.

APROBACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE ORDEN DEL DÍA

del Consejo Permanente.- 3La PRESIDENTA: Good morning, distinguished colleagues.

APROBACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE ORDEN DEL DÍA

La PRESIDENTA: I am pleased to declare open this regular meeting of the Permanent Council convened to consider the items contained in the order of business, document CP/OD-2396/22, which I hereby submit for the consideration of this Council.

[El proyecto de orden del día contiene los siguientes puntos:

1. Aprobación del orden del día

2. Informe final de la Misión de Observación Electoral de la OEA desplegada en las elecciones generales celebradas en Santa Lucía el 26 de julio de 2021 • Presentación a cargo de la Sra. Maricarmen Plata, Jefa de Misión

3. Informe final de la Misión de Observación Electoral de la OEA desplegada en las elecciones legislativas y municipales celebradas en El Salvador el 28 de febrero de 2021 • Presentación a cargo de la Sra. María Eugenia Vidal, Jefa de Misión

4. Trigésimo tercer informe de la Misión de Apoyo al Proceso de Paz en Colombia de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (MAPP/OEA) • Presentación a cargo del Sr. Roberto Menéndez, Jefe de Misión

5. Informes de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) sobre la ejecución del presupuesto del Fondo Regular para el año 2021 y el primer semestre de 2022 e informe final de la evaluación externa del Plan Estratégico 2017 -2021 de la CIDH • Presentación a cargo de la Comisionada Julissa Mantilla Falcón, Presidenta de la CIDH

6. Informe sobre las actividades de la Comisión sobre Gestión de Cumbres

CIDH • Presentación a cargo de la Comisionada Julissa Mantilla Falcón, Presidenta de la CIDH

6. Informe sobre las actividades de la Comisión sobre Gestión de Cumbres Interamericanas y Participación de la Sociedad Civil en las Actividades de la OEA

(CISC) durante el mandato de 2022 • Informe del Presidente de la CISC • Proyecto de resolución “Apoyo y seguimiento del proceso de Cumbres de las Américas” • Proyecto de resolución “Aumento y fortalecimiento de la participación de la sociedad civil y los actores sociales en las actividades de la Organización de los Estados Americanos y en el proceso de Cumbres de las Américas”

7. Informe anual 2021 de la Oficina de la Ombudsperson • Presentación a cargo de la Sra. Neida Pérez, Ombudsperson

8. Convocatoria para la presentación de candidatos al Comité de Auditoría49. Consideración de la nota de la Misión Permanente de Argentina mediante la cual solicita la inclusión del tema “Declaración de solidaridad con el pueblo argentino ante el intento de magnicidio sufrido por la Vicepresidenta de la República Argentina” en el proyecto de temario del quincuagésimo segundo período ordinario de sesiones de la

Asamblea General

10. Consideración del proyecto de resolución “Papel prioritario de la Organización de los Estados Americanos en el desarrollo de las telecomunicaciones/tecnologías de la información y la comunicación a través de la Comisión Interamericana de Telecomunicaciones (CITEL)” a ser considerado en el quincuagésimo segundo período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General

información y la comunicación a través de la Comisión Interamericana de Telecomunicaciones (CITEL)” a ser considerado en el quincuagésimo segundo período ordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General

11. Despedida de la Excelentísima señora Anne de la Blache, Embajadora, Observadora

Permanente de Francia

12. Otros asuntos.]

There being no observations, we will proceed to adopt it without amendment.

Adopted.

Before addressing the items on the order of business, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the people and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and to member states and permanent observers of the Organization of American States (OAS) that are realms and that are part of The Commonwealth of Nations, on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

She leaves a legacy of dedicated and admirable public service, which will be remembered by those who witnessed her constancy and grace during her reign of seventy years.

I invite you to join me in observing a moment of silence in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

[El Consejo, de pie, observa un minuto de silencio.]

Thank you.

La PRESIDENTA: Now, we wish His Majesty King Charles III a successful reign.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, as they deal with the devastation caused by Hurricane Fiona.

This latest destruction is compelling evidence of the increasingly disastrous impact of climate change. If drastic and effective mitigation measures are not taken now by all parties, it will become even more challenging and costly in the future to address the economic, social, and environmental effects of climate change.- 5In other matters, allow me, on behalf of the Permanent Council, to congratulate the Governments and people of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, who

effects of climate change.- 5In other matters, allow me, on behalf of the Permanent Council, to congratulate the Governments and people of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, who celebrated their National Day last Thursday, September 15; to extend congratulatio ns to the Governments and people of Mexico, Chile, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, who also celebrated their national holidays on September 16, 18, and 19, respectively; as well as to the Government and people of Belize who today, September 21, are celebrating their independence day.

Dear colleagues, we have a lengthy agenda today, so, as stated in our order of business, we are scheduled to take a break at 1:00 p.m. to return at 2:30 p.m. Nevertheless, I respectfully request our distinguished panelists and representatives of delegatio ns to adhere to the time limits provided in the Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

INFORME FINAL DE LA MISIÓN DE OBSERV ACIÓN ELECTORAL DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOSA DESPLEGADA PARA LAS ELECCIONES GENERALES CELEBRADAS EN SANTA LUCÍA EL 26 DE JULIO DE 2021

La PRESIDENTA: The next item on the agenda is the presentation of the Final Report of the Organization of American States (OAS) Electoral Observation Mission, deployed for the General Elections which were held in Saint Lucia on July 26, 2021, pursuant to the request from the Secretary General, document CP/INF. 9467/22.

This was the third occasion on which the OAS observed an electoral process in Saint Lucia. The Mission was headed by the OAS Secretary for Access to Rights and Equity, Ms. Maricarmen Plata. A Panamanian national, Secretary Plata has extensive experience in developing initiatives focused on the analysis and promotion of international public law and human rights. Secretary Plata will present a

The Mission was headed by the OAS Secretary for Access to Rights and Equity, Ms. Maricarmen Plata. A Panamanian national, Secretary Plata has extensive experience in developing initiatives focused on the analysis and promotion of international public law and human rights. Secretary Plata will present a summary of the final report that has been distributed to all delegations as document CP/doc. 5808/22.

Secretary Plata, the floor is yours.

La JEFA DE LA MISIÓN DE OBSERV ACIÓN ELECTORAL DESPLEGADA POR LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS EN SANTA LUCÍA: Chair, Ambassador Lou-Anne Gilchrist, Chair of the Permanent Council; Ambassador Elizabeth Darius-Clarke, Permanent Representative of Sa int Lucia to the Organization of American States (OAS); Ambassador Nestor Mendez, OAS Assistant Secretary General; representatives of the OAS member states and permanent observers:

The OAS Electoral Observation Mission for the July 26, 2021, General Elections in Saint Lucia was honored to be invited to observe the conduct of the 2021 process, and congratulates the citizens on their strong civic commitment, which was amply displayed d uring the advanced poll on July 23, and on Election Day itself.

The Mission comprised thirteen experts and observers from eleven countries, one of whom worked remotely. Members of the Mission observed the advanced poll on July 23, which allowed the security services, election officials, and persons in hospitals and care facilities, to cast their vote early. On Election Day the Mission was present in all of Saint Lucia’s seventeen constituencies and observed6the process from the opening of the polling stations to the tallying and transmission of preliminary results.

On both days, the Mission found that the process was conducted in a well -organized and generally peaceful manner, and that election officials were meticulous and knowledgeable about the procedures to be followed. While there were some minor issues on both days, including with the

results.

On both days, the Mission found that the process was conducted in a well -organized and generally peaceful manner, and that election officials were meticulous and knowledgeable about the procedures to be followed. While there were some minor issues on both days, including with the technology used to enhance the process, this did not affect the taking of the poll. OAS observers expressed that the polling stations at which they were present closed on time, and that the closing procedures they witnessed were carried out as required.

Preliminary election results were available shortly after midnight and indicated that the Saint Lucia Labor Party won 13 out of the 17 seats in the House Assembly, with 2 seats going to the United Workers Party, and 2 seats to independent candidates. The M ission was pleased to note the timely acceptance of those results, as well as the peaceful transfer of power to the new administration.

The Mission commends the efforts of the Saint Lucia authorities to deliver the July 2021, General Elections despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OAS Missions are deployed to support efforts by member states to improve their electoral systems. Therefore, please allow me in the time that remains, to briefly mention a few of the Mission’s findings and recommendations.

The Mission’s complete report has been distributed and can be found on the web page of the OAS Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation. On electoral technology: the 2021 General Elections benefitted from innovative technology solutions that enhanced the vo ter identification processes and significantly accelerated the transmission of results at the end of Election Day. However, connectivity issues during the advance poll and on election day, as well as incidents on election night, suggested a lack of compreh ensive testing of this system. It will be important to address these weaknesses in future electoral processes.

The Mission therefore recommends ensuring that the voter verification system, the planned results page, and the technological ecosystem to be used in both instances are subjected to extensive testing prior to Election Day, in order to detect and diagnose p erformance issues, as well as guarantee ongoing and stable connectivity.

The Mission therefore recommends ensuring that the voter verification system, the planned results page, and the technological ecosystem to be used in both instances are subjected to extensive testing prior to Election Day, in order to detect and diagnose p erformance issues, as well as guarantee ongoing and stable connectivity.

The Mission also recommends strengthening the bandwidth capacity and elasticity of the results publication website for this purpose.

On electoral registries: Section 17 of the Elections Act makes provisions for continuous registration, with the 1979 Register of Electors being the base list to which new applicants have been added. According to the information provided to the Mission, the voters’ list used in the 2021 General Elections contained 174,270 names, a number that is considerably high in relation to the estimated population of Saint Lucia of 184,000.

The Mission noted that, although the law mandates a periodic update of the register, no effective procedure has been established to achieve this. Nor are there well -defined mechanisms in place to identify and remove the names of persons who have died, or w ho have been absent from Saint Lucia for a continuous period of more than five years.- 7The Mission, therefore, recommends:

• Amending the Elections Act to provide for the conduct of a full house -to-house enumeration exercise to replace the voters ’ list in existence and thereafter allow for periodic reverification of the list.

• Amending electors ’ registration regulations and deceased elector confirmation procedures to ensure their identification and removal from the list.

• Establishing collaboration and data-sharing between the Offices of the Chief Elections Officer and the Civil Registrar; and with other institutions that collect official information on persons who have migrated, in order to better coordinate the receipt of information required to update the voters’ list.

On electoral boundaries: Schedule 2 of the Saint Lucia Constitution requires that, as far as practicable, all constituencies should contain, as near as possible, an equal number of inhabitants.

Section 58 of the Constitution also mandates that the Boundaries Commission must review the number

information required to update the voters’ list.

On electoral boundaries: Schedule 2 of the Saint Lucia Constitution requires that, as far as practicable, all constituencies should contain, as near as possible, an equal number of inhabitants.

Section 58 of the Constitution also mandates that the Boundaries Commission must review the number and boundaries of the constituencies and submit a report to the Governor General at intervals of not less than three nor more than seven years.

The constituency boundaries of Saint Lucia were last effectively redrawn in 2001. In the interim, population growth and internal migration have created an imbalance in the distribution of electors across the country, with the largest constituency, Gros-Islet, containing over four times as many electors as the smallest, Dennery South.

The Mission welcomes the advice of Saint Lucia ’s authorities this month that, constituency boundaries are scheduled to be redrawn in 2023, following completion of the 2022 national census. The Mission recommends redrawing and approving the new constituency boundaries at the earliest opportunity, to all ow all related electoral actions, including voter registration, to be completed in a timely manner, and well in advance of the next General Elections.

The Mission wishes to thank the Government of Saint Lucia, the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Department, the Ministry of External Affairs, the stakeholders with whom it met, and all citizens, for their willingness to share their perspectives on the different aspects of the electoral process. These discussions contributed immensely to the successful completion of the Mission’s work.

We also welcome the constructive and fruitful exchanges with the Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia as we prepared for today’s presentation. We look forward to our continued dialogue.

Finally, the Mission is grateful to the Governments of the Dominican Republic, France, Korea, Italy, Netherlands, Peru, and the United States for their financial contributions, which made this Mission possible.

And on a personal note, I would also like to thank the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) team, Secretary Guerrero, Gerardo de Icaza, Melene Glynn, Brenda8possible.

And on a personal note, I would also like to thank the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) team, Secretary Guerrero, Gerardo de Icaza, Melene Glynn, Brenda8Santamaria, and the rest of the team who accompanied me for their extremely professional work during a pandemic still, and the work that they have done thereafter to be able to present this report today.

Thank you very much.

La PRESIDENTA: On behalf of the Permanent Council, I wish to thank Secretary Plata for delivering her report as Chief of the Electoral Observation Mission in Saint Lucia.

I now offer the floor to the Ambassador of Saint Lucia. You have the floor please.

La REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE SANTA LUCÍA: Thank you Madam Chair. Good morning colleagues.

On behalf of the Government of Saint Lucia, my delegation expresses its appreciation to the Organization of American States (OAS), particularly the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, for dispatching an Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to Saint Lucia on July 26, 2021.

The EOM, which was led by Ms. Maricarmen Plata, Secretary for Access to Rights and Equity of the OAS General Secretariat, concluded that the electoral process in Saint Lucia was well-organized and efficient.

Chair, on Monday, July 26, 2021, Saint Lucians went to the polls for the island ’s eleventh General Elections since independence on February 22, 1979.

Save for the challenge following the 2011 General Elections, all election results have been accepted by the parties and the electorate. The foregoing is to indicate that Saint Lucia has established a reputation for free and fair elections.

The conduct of the 2021 General Election was even more remarkable considering that we were in the throes of a pandemic. To this end, the Electoral Department engaged the main political parties and conducted several more polls prior to the actual event. The se prepared voters for, among other

a reputation for free and fair elections.

The conduct of the 2021 General Election was even more remarkable considering that we were in the throes of a pandemic. To this end, the Electoral Department engaged the main political parties and conducted several more polls prior to the actual event. The se prepared voters for, among other things, longer voting times to ensure the safety of workers and voters alike.

We note the Missio