Election day in Suriname

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – More than 350,000 people are eligible to cast ballots today as voters in this Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member State began voting for a new government, the eighth since the country attained its political independence.
Seven political parties and four coalitions are vying to take control of the Parliament.

The 623 polling stations opened at 7:00 am (Local time) and will close 12 hours later. Electoral officials say the first preliminary results are expected three hours after the polls close with the new government expected to be named early Tuesday.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has mounted an Electoral Observer Mission to monitor today’s elections.

The Mission is headed by Mr. Ian Browne, the Deputy Chief Elections Officer in Barbados.  The other members include experts in Electoral Management and Administration from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.