CARICOM observers praise peaceful, transparent election in Barbados

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) deployed a three-member Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to monitor Barbados’ 11 February 2026 General Election, concluding that the vote was conducted peacefully, orderly, and transparently.

The Mission, made up of senior electoral officials from Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Jamaica, supported by three members of the CARICOM Secretariat, was invited by the Government of Barbados on 27 January 2026. Its mandate was to provide an independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process, including the pre-election environment, voting, and counting of ballots.

The CEOM engaged with stakeholders across Barbados, including political leaders, independent candidates, civil society organisations, and electoral authorities. Concerns raised included the accuracy and transparency of the voters’ list, accessibility for persons with disabilities, campaign financing, and media access. The Mission noted that the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) made efforts to address queries leading up to the polls.

On Election Day, observers visited polling stations in nineteen constituencies. They reported that polling staff were professional, courteous, and well-prepared, and that voters cast their ballots peacefully. Minor challenges were noted, such as inconsistent placement of voting booths and limited accessibility for elderly or disabled voters. The closing of polls and transportation of ballots to counting centres were conducted in accordance with established procedures, and the counting process was transparent, though the centralized system contributed to longer tabulation times.

The CEOM commended the Electoral and Boundaries Commission, polling staff, political parties, agents, and voters for their conduct, and made preliminary recommendations including: improving polling station accessibility, decentralizing vote counting to reduce delays, and enhancing the management of the voters’ list.

The Mission concluded that the 2026 General Election results reflect the will of the Barbadian people. A comprehensive final report will be submitted to the CARICOM Secretary-General and shared with the Government of Barbados and the public in the coming weeks.

The CARICOM observers expressed gratitude to political leaders, civil society, the media, and the people of Barbados for their cooperation, which contributed to the success of the observation mission.