Supervisor of Elections Ian S. Hughes has been appointed to lead a three-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Election Observation Mission to Barbados, ahead of the country’s General Elections scheduled for Thursday, 11 February 2026.

Hughes will serve as Chief of Mission and will be joined by Andrew Smith, Regional Manager at the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (EOJ), and Josephine Tamai, Chief Election Officer of Belize.

The CARICOM delegation is expected to be in Barbados from Thursday, 5 February to Friday, 13 February 2026, during which time it will observe and assess key aspects of the electoral process in accordance with the Mission’s established Terms of Reference.

In his role as Chief of Mission, Hughes will operate as an independent contractor, providing leadership and guidance to the observer team while ensuring that the Mission fulfills its mandate of impartiality, professionalism, and accuracy in reporting.

Hughes has expressed his appreciation to CARICOM for the trust and confidence placed in his expertise, noting that he looks forward to contributing meaningfully to the observation exercise and to capturing the nuances and broader context of Barbados’ upcoming electoral process.