July 24, 2020

Opposition Calls For Update On Election Observers

By Newsroom

With just over two weeks to go before polling day, the United National Congress is calling for an update from government as to when the international observers will arrive in the country.

Earlier this month Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley wrote to CARICOM and the Commonwealth, requesting international observers to monitor T&T’s elections.

See the UNC’s full statement below:

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, in response to my call for international election observers on 8th of July 2020, announced via his Facebook page that he wrote to CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin La Rocque and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, QC, formally inviting them to send election observers to Trinidad and Tobago. 

However, almost two weeks later, and with just 17 days to go to the August 10th General Election, we have heard nothing more of it. 

With the heightened level of alertness after the new local cases of Covid-19, the window for the required 14-day quarantine period for observers before the election date is closing. 

The Prime Minister must act immediately to have these observers here by this weekend so they can be cleared in time for the election. 

It is worth reiterating that international election observation or monitoring is an important mechanism for ensuring election integrity, and the UNC continues to hold the firm view that international observers are needed to ensure that our election is conducted in a free, fair, and just manner that will reflect the true mandate of the people.

As you may all know, international observers have in the past, played an important role in Trinidad and Tobago’s elections. In the 2007 and 2010 elections, we received observers from the Commonwealth and CARICOM, while the 2015 election was observed by the Commonwealth. 

With the time quickly running out, I am calling on the Prime Minister to act immediately to put the necessary arrangements in place and update the nation on this matter.  

Let us do all we can to ensure our tradition of free and fair elections in Trinidad and Tobago is upheld while protecting the health and wellbeing of our nation. 

 

Share