I am an elector in one of the Diego Martin constituencies. I believe there are some 100,000 of us in the three constituencies.
The EBC operated an office in the Four Roads area at which there was parking and other conveniences that made it relatively easy for someone to exercise his or her rights. The EBC has chosen to close that office (temporarily they claim). Now electors must deal with the traffic and the absence of parking areas on Frederick Street in Port-of-Spain in order to ensure that their registration is up to date and to secure identification cards.
I would have thought that the EBC's mandate was to regulate elections as well as facilitate electors as far as possible. I would even have thought that if the EBC thought the office was not adequately used, then for the upcoming local government poll they would re-open the office.Already local government polls are marked by low turnout. It seems to me that in carrying out their mandate effectively, the EBC would do whatever was necessary to facilitate electors.
I want to make sure I can vote so I will be going to Frederick Street, but surely better can be done.
Andre Vincent Henry, PhD
via e-mail