We encourage all the citizens to play their part in ensuring a credible election: Commonwealth

The Commonwealth has called on all citizens of the Maldives to play their part in ensuring a credible election on 22 March.

Chair of Commonwealth Observer Group to the Parliamentary Election, former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding made this request while speaking at a press conference at Traders Hotel today.

“We encourage all the citizens of this beautiful country to play their part in ensuring that the country enjoys credible elections on 22 March.”

When asked by Sun Online for the group’s view on the capability of the Elections Commission following the dismissal of two senior officials, Golding said that they would not want to pass a judgment on that issue.

He said that Elections Commission had advised the Observer Group during discussions that they were proceeding with the arrangements, and that the group respects the commission’s judgement in terms of their preparedness to do so.

Golding assured that the group will be “scrupulously objective, impartial and independent” in conducting their duties.

The Commonwealth Observer Group is drawn from across the regions of the Commonwealth. It includes a range of experts in the fields of politics, electoral administration, law and media.

The group arrived in Maldives on 16 March and will depart on 28 March after completing its assessment, and will publish a final report soon afterwards.