Computer-savvy supporters of the Congress of the People (COP) who are using social networks to comment on the upcoming July 3 election and candidates are being monitored by the party's "blog police." Elections chairman Vallance Rambharat told the T&T Guardian that not only was he monitoring the blogs, but those who disregarded the rules about keeping the campaign clean and dignified would be referred to a dispute resolution committee. Rambharat said he has had cause to speak or write to three members of the COP, after complaints about their commentaries.
He explained that while the party welcomed criticism, supporters should not use this as an opportunity to comment on the private lives of candidates and their families, or make defamatory allegations against them. "I must add that some of the commentaries are indeed excellent in terms of its intense scrutiny to which our candidates must be subjected," he said. "However, commentaries should be constructive, research-based and not divisive, because at the end of the day, we do not want to divide the party." He said members of the party have agreed to a measure of self-regulation during the campaign. "But if we are trying to raise the standards of the politicians during the campaign, we ought to bring the supporters on board as well and let them learn to campaign with some dignity," Rambharat said.
He said the elections commission would be relentless and decisive in enforcing the rules for the conduct of the election and members who break the elections rules would be referred to the dispute resolution committee. Candidates, on the other hand, would be disqualified, he added. "And the disqualification will stand," Rambharat said. After the decision of COP's political leader Finance Minister Winston Dookeran to step down, four candidates have thrown their hats into the ring. They are Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar, Sports Minister Anil Roberts, vice-chairman Vernon de Lima and Nalini Dial.