Venson-Moitoi chairs Commonwealth election observer mission
Ryder Gabathuse | Wednesday April 29, 2026 06:00
Confirming the appointment recently Venson-Moitoi said: “I have participated in two previous Commonwealth missions as a team member in Nigeria and in Zimbabwe and I have found each mission a learning opportunity on the diversity of the Commonwealth.”
“And I have had the honour to participate in the writing of country reports that carry recommendations whose intent it is to further promote democracy and improve the management of processes associated with elections.”
She told The Monior in an interview that for Botswana, “We should be humbled that our model of democracy still resonates with what is considered to be true and real in the governance of and development by others and we must do all we can to hold on to that as much as possible.”
At a personal level, Venson-Moitoi said she could never pass up an opportunity to learn and discover because there is no end to how much one can find out in any field. She emphasised that no election is like another.
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey said about Venson-Moitoi's appointment in the Commonwealth release: ' I am confident that the chairperson, Dr Venson-Moitoi and the members of this group will bring their experience to bear in delivering an independent, credible and balanced assessment of the electoral process in Antigua and Barbuda.'
About Antigua and Barbuda
Journals show that Antigua and Barbuda is an independent Commonwealth State in the Eastern Caribbean. Antigua is 14 miles long and 11 miles wide and its flatland topography was well suited to produce its early crops of tobacco, cotton, and ginger information show.
The main industry, however, developed into sugar cane farming, which lasted for over 200 years. Today, following its independence from Britain in 1981, Antigua’s key industry is tourism and related service industries.
The next largest job-creating sectors are the finance services industry and the government.
With some 365 beaches of clean, clear, turquoise waters, the lush tropical island of Antigua is an inviting paradise and considered to be one of the most beautiful places in the world.
As a result, tourism is the key driver of GDP and generates around 60% of the island’s income, with key target markets being Canada, Europe, and the USA.
Antigua has experienced a challenging economic environment in recent years. However, the government has been credited with its implementation of the National Economic and Social Transformation Plan and a debt restructuring effort.
One of the initiatives to support the island nation's economy is the introduction of a citizenship by investment program, for which Henley & Partners has played a significant role in advising and assisting the government on the program’s design, implementation, and international placement.
Antigua’s commitment to serving its tourism industry and increasing its GDP is demonstrated with the airport expansion project, which is worth $45 million and includes three passenger jet bridges and more than two dozen check-in counters, creating an overall higher efficiency for passenger arrival. It will also allow an increase in scheduled, charter, and inter-island flights.