by Linda Straker
- The Parliamentary Elections Office falls under Governor-General’s jurisdiction
- Electoral system crash left many unable to register as voters during first quarter of 2025
- Amanda Jack appointed in 2023, replacing Geraldine Guy
Opposition Leader Emmalin Pierre has written to Governor-General Dame Cecile La Grenade expressing her concern about the political activism of Amanda Jack, the registration/returning officer for the Parliamentary Elections Office (PEO) in Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
The PEO falls under the jurisdiction of the Governor-General as the authority responsible for appointing and revoking returning officers to the position. Complaints about registration/returning officers should also be sent to the Governor-General’s office.
Jack, an educator by profession, was appointed to the position in the first quarter of 2023, replacing Geraldine Guy. In recent times, she has been photographed at political meetings of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) wearing a t-shirt displaying the colour and symbol of the party.
Pierre said that anyone holding such a position should not be engaging in open political activities because it can create a perception of conflict and bias. “I wrote to the Governor-General expressing serious concern about the returning officer in Carriacou who was seen publicly engaging in open activities of the National Democratic Congress, and this is absolutely unacceptable.”
“Any government, in any part of this world, should be concerned about this,” she added while referring to the recent situation in Trinidad and Tobago, where a prescribing officer of the Election and Boundaries Commission was terminated for openly displaying support. “It is the right of a person to support his or her choice, but when you are managing the process, when you are managing the process, when you are supervising the process, definitely you have to be perceived as being fair,” she said.
In the interview, Pierre also expressed concern about the crashing of the electoral system, which left many citizens unable to register as voters during the first quarter of 2025. Arthur Pierre, Supervisor of Elections, admitted that there was a problem with the system, but it has since been resolved, and registration will soon resume.
