A MEMBER of the Legislative Council will observe the British Virgin Islands general election which takes place today (Monday).

Alex Downie is one of the members of the Joint Observers Mission and is attending at the invitation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) British and Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR).

They are the joint organising bodies of the week-long mission which seeks to demonstrate the territory's commitment to parliamentary democracy and high standards of transparency and integrity during the general election process.

Mr Downie joins the mission's leader, Ambassador Rudolph Collins, former Chairman of the Elections Commissions in Guyana, Eugene Petty, former Supervisor of Elections, St Kitts and Nevis, Mignon Bowen from the CARICOM Secretariat, Guyana, Westminster MPs Conor Burns and Thomas Docherty and Leon Gallienne, Deputy from Guernsey.

The role of Joint Observer Mission members is to observe the election then submit a report on their findings.

In recent years the practice has been followed during the 2010 UK general election and the Turks and Caicos Islands general election in 2007.

The Governor of the British Virgin Islands His Excellency Mr Boyd McCleary CMG CVO said: "Elections are an important part of the democratic process.

"Having observers enables us to exchange good practice and help set high standards for democracy in the region."

Chairman of the Isle of Man branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Juan Watterson MHK said: "Against the background of our own recent general election we in the Isle of Man are proud of our robust electoral procedures and mature democratic parliamentary processes.

"As a committed CPA branch member nation the Isle of Man is appreciative of the opportunity to offer its support through the experience of Mr Downie as the people of the British Virgin Islands go to the polls."