Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, paid a courtesy call on Guyana’s key opposition figures, including former president and current Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Monday.

During the visit, Jagdeo told Mottley he believed it was critical that CARICOM maintained a strong observer presence in that country during national elections next month, while also expressing disappointment with the response of the regional movement during the political disputes of the past year.

“We are just hoping for free, fair, peaceful elections,” Jagdeo said, adding that his People’s Progressive Party remained hopeful that issues of race and ethnicity would not be used negatively to influence the outcome of the poll.

Mottley, who was accompanied by Barbados’ Attorney General Dale Marshall, QC, and Secretary General of CARICOM Irwin LaRocque, reiterated Barbados’ and CARICOM’s commitment to working with Guyana prior to and after the national elections, noting the critical role the country has always played in regional development.

The General Election will be held on March 2.