This was the year when much of the Caribbean went to the polls. General elections were held in Anguilla, Belize, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St Kitts, St Vincent, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Suriname, and Trinidad. In each case the losers conceded rapidly and governments either continued in office or saw power transferred peacefully.
Even in Guyana’s much contested election outcome, the rule of law prevailed and with concerted external pressure, including ironically that of the Trump Administration, the outcome was recognised, and the opposition was finally declared the winner.
In a rapidly changing world, however, democratic outcomes may no longer be enough.