Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell believes Grenada’s Electoral Office is in need of a computer software technician and in a meeting with the country’s Representative of the Organisation of American States (OAS) the prime minister made an appeal for such assistance. Mitchell requested that a high level OAS delegation come to Grenada to observe the entire election period. Mitchell told the OAS representative, Francis McBarnette, that Grenada has not had any major problems with elections in recent times and he wanted to see the electoral process continue to be free and fair. According to McBarnette, the OAS had worked with the Grenada Electoral Office since 1999 and that the organization would continue to support the Office and the entire process. He said that the OAS was completely satisfied with recent elections in Grenada and that he was sure that this satisfaction would continue. It was recently alleged that a system crash had been the cause of a number of names being missing from the voter’s lists. The OAS representative added that the problems which had surfaced at the Electoral Office had not, in his opinion, affected the integrity of the electoral process. He further added that the OAS and the Electoral Office were working speedily to correct any errors. Mitchell and McBarnette also discussed OAS assistance with the implementation of the Integrity in Public Life Bill and the funding of the Office of the Ombudsman. The Prime Minister emphasised to McBarnette the importance of the Integrity in Public Life Bill. He said that it was important that those serving in public demonstrate a high level of honesty. He noted that the Integrity in Public Life Bill was designed to ensure that Public Officials conducted their business in an honourable way. In addressing the issue of the Ombudsman, Mitchell told McBarnette that it was absolutely essential for the Office of the Ombudsman to be established as soon as possible. He explained that the Ombudsman would create an official medium for persons who have complaints or suggestions. “I believe that the Office of the Ombudsman is vital. I want to see the average man or woman in Grenada, have a place where they can air their views and get remedies to problems or complaints,” Mitchell remarked. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com