March 25, 2025
By way of letter dated February 11, 2025, Dr. Richeline C. Joe, President of the Supreme Election Council of Curaçao (SEC), invited the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to send a technical team to observe the general elections in Curaçao. In response, the Secretary-General of CARICOM agreed to deploy a CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM), comprised of three persons. The general elections were held on 21 March, 2025.
The key objectives of the CEOM were to:
observe the entire election process in the host country, including observations of the general atmosphere and environmental conditions under which the election is being conducted; the activities at the polling stations on the day of the election; the counting and tabulation of votes after the closing of the polls; and the political climate after the announcement of the results;
collect qualitative and quantitative data regarding the entire election process, including the general administration of the election by the election officials, and the conduct of stakeholders such as political actors, civil society stakeholders, the media, and the voting public at large; and
identify any areas of weakness and make the appropriate and timely recommendations as needed.
In pursuit of these objectives, the CEOM team, prior to election day, held several meetings with the SEC, first to gain a comprehensive understanding as to the extent of the preparations for election day, and to assess their expectations with respect to any anticipated difficulties on election day. In addition, the SEC arranged official meetings with high-ranking government leaders, as well as the opportunity to meet and greet other stakeholder groups and civil society. Having concluded the meetings, it was clear that the SEC was more than reasonably prepared for the conduct of the election. In addition, there was consensus among the groups that the environment, though filled with anticipation, was generally calm, and as a result, the leaders and the groups with whom we spoke, expressed the expectation that the election would take place without any issues or incidences of concern.
On election day, the CEOM team started its observations at the World Trade Centre in Willemstad, which was used as the centre for the distribution and deployment of all the polling station materials and personnel, including the police and security services. This process went relatively smoothly, and the various groups were dispatched to their respective polling stations on time.
We continued our observations by attending three polling stations half an hour prior to the opening of the polls. We observed that the pre-opening procedures were adequately followed and that the polling stations opened on time. From media reports, all the polling stations opened on time save for one in which access to the building was inadvertently delayed. Access was eventually granted and the polling station opened.
Throughout the remainder of polling day, the CEOM team observed the voting process at 23 polling stations out of 107, at which approximately 23% of the registered voters were slated to vote. Our observations included the closing procedures and the counting of the votes at two of the 23 polling stations visited. The CEOM team also had the unique opportunity to observe the voting process in the polling station located at the Curaçao Centre for Correction and Detention.
Overall, our preliminary assessment is that the general election held in Curaçao on 21 March, 2025, was conducted smoothly and without major incident, and that the result thereof reflects the will of the people of Curaçao. The opening procedures, voting processes and closing and counting procedures observed were within the bounds of the published Rules and Procedures for parliamentary elections in Curaçao. We also report that there were no major areas of concern.
The CEOM team will prepare a full report for submission to the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which will include recommendations for the conduct of future elections in Curaçao.
The CEOM team congratulates the members and staff of the SEC, led by Dr. Richeline C. Joe, for a successful election. We also express our appreciation for the warm welcome extended to the CEOM team, which contributed to the success of our mission.