U.S. Embassy Supports Citizens Democracy Watch Seychelles
According to a press communique from the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius. The Embassy is providing support to strengthen the CDWS. The U.S. Embassy awarded $42,300 to Citizens Democracy Watch Seychelles (CDWS) to support a series of capacity building and civic education initiatives to enhance the integrity of the electoral process in Seychelles.
Ahead of the 2020 general elections, the grant has been used to conduct a three-day short-term elections observer training for over 40 elections observers. The pool of newly recruited observers will receive election observer certificates in a ceremony conducted by CDWS. The funds will also be used for the purchase of materials required for the deployment of observers across the country.
In his remarks at the launch of the CDWS election observer mission on October 10, U.S. Ambassador to Mauritius and Seychelles David Reimer said, “In general, democratic nations are freer nations. Democratic societies are more peaceful societies. Democratic countries are more prosperous and equitable countries. And democratic nations are less likely to go to war with one another. The work that Citizens Democracy Watch Seychelles is doing is therefore of great importance.”
The grant is funded by the Africa Regional Democracy Fund (ARDF). Through ARDF, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs provides foreign assistance resources to support programming that strengthens democratic institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. The U.S. Embassy selected CDWS because their programs aim to strengthen democratic institutions by supporting broad Seychellois public participation and civic awareness, strengthening societal oversight of the 2020 presidential and legislative elections, and supporting open and effective election administration.
“By promoting democracy, our intention is not to dictate to our friends and neighbors how they should organize their society. No, what we try to do is hold up democracy as a good model of government and society that promotes a better world for us all,” said Ambassador Reimer.
