General elections are looming in Grenada, after the last one which was held on 23 June 2022 and won by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) now in government.
Amidst the intense vibes with many speculations and anxieties about the next elections, the Parliamentary Elections Office (PEO) headed by a constitutionally independent Supervisor of Elections (SoE) is now on a widespread public relations charade with much propaganda and the dodging of the weighty issues.
Whilst it is justifiable to condemn and protest the dismal management of the electoral process, also featuring its stark irregularities and deficiencies, the performances thus far of the senior officers of the PEO on the local airwaves brings again into keen focus the ‘competence, integrity and resolve’ of those personnel.
The posture displayed with the treatment of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), even in light of the tremendous recommendations for reforms of the electoral process, by the Overseas Elections Observations Missions, is not conducive to expect Free and Fair elections.
Perpetuating False Images
Reinstated Voter Registration and Civic Education Officer, Mr. Ferdinand Phillip, has been elevating the PEO as a reputable and esteemed institution, and making claims that Grenada by getting high ratings for its electoral process, including inclusive participation, is the envy of many other nations.
He has also embarked on entering schools to build a “sense of patriotism” in the young people and to allow them to “know their rights and their responsibilities”.
Without any doubt, such a worthy programme is far outside the scope and mandate of the PEO and thus its ‘sole involvement’ would dilute the ‘need and content’ for this outstanding National Call.
It should not be missed that by recalling the February 2021 article, Grenada’s Parliamentary Elections Office on the Voter Identification Card, this is the same Ferdinand who has fed and confused the nation with misinformation on the validity (within expiration) and the use of the Voter ‘Registration Identification’ Card, which the RPA under sections 24 and 59 speaks about.
Mr. Phillip appears along with the SoE, Mr. Arthur Pierre, on the Grenada Broadcasting Network’s (GBN) To The Point edition of 3rd June 2026, as the PEO seeks to engender confidence towards the electoral process and its personnel.
The interview pitched around ‘registration for voting’, but the officials were not thorough and transparent, leaving many statements hanging and many answers lacking.
Subliminal and read-between-the-lines messages were sent to blocks of voters who are hoping to exploit the administrative and legal gaps in the applications of the registration and voting provisions in RPA (Part III & Part V).
What has been exemplified in the public domain by those officials will put conscious and critical individuals on edge about the ‘manner and quality’ of the meetings and training undertaken by the PEO in preparing Presiding Officers and Poll Clerks for the next elections.
The elections will be compromised if ‘appropriate and strict’ execution of the roles of those transient recruits as required by RPA are flouted.
Maintaining Repulsive Status Quo
Both Pierre and Phillip reveal inherent ‘deceits and defects’ in the pronouncements and operations of the PEO.
Moreover, their demeanours lead to the conclusion that the SoE is apparently in concert with the political directorate in keeping the status quo of ‘subtle maneuverings’ of the electoral process.
There is no trace of proactive efforts, meaningful initiatives, and unbiased engagements with all stakeholders by the PEO/SoE to advance Free and Fair elections.
Disappointments about these officials on the GBN current affairs segment also come when apparently no considerations were made to ventilate the long-standing salient concerns of the various interest groups of Civil Society.
Some of the unresolved concerns are Online Registration for the Diaspora and holders of Special Citizenships, as well as Online Voting.
In a similar context, the 2020 two-part article, Is Grenada’s Parliamentary Elections Office Conniving or Forthright? advocates for unrelenting interrogations and challenges of the PEO.
Phillip asserts without reservations that the information given and the actions taken by the PEO/SoE are of “legislative directions” and saying “we (‘officers’) only interpret what is before us (‘the law, RPA’) for the benefit of the general public”.
This assertion as a defence, further incriminates the PEO/SoE on its ‘complacent and ignorant’ stance. Are those legislative directions cast in stone, being naturally and morally fit for Electoral Justice? What is the expertise and authority of the PEO/SoE in interpreting the pertinent legislative provisions?
The faint assertion comes without any reflection that certain provisions of the RPA are unconstitutional and without any reference that findings of shortcomings and loopholes in the electoral process, including with the RPA, are raised typically by the Organisation of American States (OAS) from the most recent two elections (March 2018 and June 2022).
It is perplexing to decipher and be convinced that the PEO/SoE is working “for the benefit of the general (‘Grenadian’) public and thereby rendering respect for democratic principles.
The article How Practical and Valuable are Elections Observer Missions in Grenada? explores the length at which the powers-that-be is prepared to go in maintaining an electoral system which has been repeatedly advised about.
Trivialising Registration
Without instructing and emphasising about the requirements and due process for registration, as well as about the importance of the voter ID card on elections day, SoE Pierre defines “getting registered” simply as “one, your name is place on the electoral list and two, you are issued a voter’s ID card”.
Relatedly Pierre said, “The fact is that we cannot prevent persons from being registered. We do the registration, the objection would come, and then we do the investigation …. raising objections when that list (‘official consolidated list of electors’) is published just before elections, there’s nothing that we can possibly do to properly investigate and properly rectify the issue (‘of erroneous registration’)”.
Is Pierre aware that, according to sections 5, 6 & 7 of the RPA, with the “Right of person to vote” also comes eligibility criterions for “Entitlement to registration”; principally based on section 32 (“Election of members of House of Representatives”) of Grenada’s 1974 Independence Constitution?
Is the arrangement for verifying “residence or domicile in Grenada” of individuals requesting to be registered, updated and full proof?
Consciously or not, he seems to be reinforcing the potential and opportunity for NEGLIGENCE and CHAOS in the registration process, as well as in the voting process.
Ridiculously, the SoE places the greater burden of responsibility for ensuring an unblemished Voters List and for Free and Fair, on the citizens and not on the employees at the various elections offices in the constituencies.
Pierre plays down the importance of the Computerised Voter Registration System (section 8, RPA) in “getting registered”, to the extent of opening himself for scrutiny in terms of ‘sanity and credibility’.
In giving clarifications on the state of this critical System, he holds that there is “currently no” issue with it and continues thus: “we have had some challenges this year … at the beginning of the year (‘2026’) because of a date change and a switching over of the date, the System said look I ain’t understand this date so let me close down. We were able to get that back up and running within a couple days”.
Pierre needs to own up regarding the amount of times that he had signed Press Releases of the nature thus: Parliamentary Elections Office computer system challenges resolved in April 2025.
Could Pierre expound on whether or not Grenada has been experiencing a ‘collapsed and condemned’ Registration System over six years and counting; whether there are any plans to replace this System; and whether it is discretionary for the Grenadian people to know the stage at of implementing the new System?
Is the PEO/SoE engrossed in ‘dual and/or parallel registration’ with the potential of generating a Special Favourable electoral list for election day? Which Registration System is employed, the Old or the New, for issuing voter ID cards with expiry dates, and would voters without expiry cards be allowed to vote?
Shouldn’t the Grenadian people extrapolate that since “a date change” can ‘easily and deeply’ affect the Registration System, then the System is very ‘vulnerable and accessible’ to powerful and negative intrusions?
The article Sorry State of Grenada Voter Registration System gives a broad view on the Issue.
J. K. Roberts