schools. To facilitate online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the
Ministry of Education provided computer tablets to students enrolled in the
government-subsidized school lunch program, including children without legal
status. Community activists alleged some schools discriminated against children
of Haitian descent by falsely claiming to be full (see section 2.f., Status and
Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons).
Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process
The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair
periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.
Elections and Political Participation
Recent Elections: In September 2021, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis won
a snap general election when his Progressive Liberal Party defeated the incumbent
Free National Movement. The Progressive Liberal Party won 32 of 39
parliamentary seats, with 56 percent of the popular vote. The Free National
Movement won the remaining seven seats. Election observers from the
Organization of American States, Caribbean Community, and Commonwealth
Secretariat found the election to be generally free and fair. Critics argued,
however, that the abrupt announcement of the snap election, which immediately
suspended voter registration, disenfranchised youth and other unregistered voters.
Furthermore, critics complained that holding the election during the COVID-19
pandemic led to historically low voter turnout (65 percent of registered voters,
compared with more than 80 percent in other recent elections).
Political Parties and Political Participation: While the law prohibits prisoners
from voting, persons who are detained but not convicted are permitted to vote.
Individuals in the main prison who were detained but not convicted, however, were
denied the ability to vote in the 2021 election.
Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups: No laws limit the
participation of women or members of minority groups in the political process.
Nonetheless, observers said patriarchal traditions, fear of verbal abuse or character
assassinations, and inflexible attitudes regarding gender roles were obstacles to