In what can be interpreted as an attempt to dismantle allegations that the government blocked international observers from participating in last Monday’s general election, the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday night released photocopies of the correspondence with the Commonwealth and CARICOM on the matter, including official letters and subsequent messages. 

Following the United National Congress’ defeat at the polls last Monday, with a 22-19 result in favor of the People’s National Movement, the Opposition once more alluded to the inability of the observers to arrive in time for August 10th, alleging that this had been concocted for the PNM to undermine the electoral process. 

According to the documents shared, (Click here to view the full letters/message) the first letter was sent by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley on July 9th, in which the formal request was made for observers. 

In subsequent messages between Foreign Affairs Minister, Dennis Moses, and Secretary General of the CARICOM, Irwin Laroque, it was explained by Mr. Laroque that the CARICOM was unable to fund the cost to quarantine the observers (US$2500)- as would have been necessary due to COVID-19. 

“It is with much regret that I must inform you that we did not make budgetary provisions for the cost of quarantine,” he wrote, later stating that CARICOM only had three members available to travel to Trinidad. “I am not sure how effectively they will be able to observe polling day. We need a minimum of 10, preferably 15, given the number of polling stations and the geographical dispersion,” he wrote. 

Meanwhile, on July 23rd, the document shows Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland QC, said while they had observers on standby to Trinidad, however said this “sadly”could not materialize, given there were “critical arrangements that should have been made with the Focal Point prior to deploying.”