United National Congress Senator Gerald Ramdeen says the Elections and Boundaries Commission has admitted that some of the laws governing election machinery in T&T are quite outdated.
Ramdeen said the admittance came after the UNC brought up the issue of voting by T&T citizens overseas during as meeting with EBC officials at the commission's Port-of-Spain headquarters yesterday.
"...EBC admitted the law governing operationalisation of election machinery in T&T is quite outdated," Ramdeen said.
"The Representation of the People's Act needs amending, there's a lot to be said on how this process can be fairer. But a number of amendments need to be done to give (EBC) the power and to organise elections in a way that those entitled to vote can do so and those not entitled will be debarred."
The meeting was called to discuss UNC’s concerns on several changes proposed in the EBC’s recent reports on Local Government and general elections preparations. The proposals concerned boundary and polling division shifts among others and while the reports are yet to be approved by Parliament, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar recently raised concerns about them, the EBC's operations and reports of a Venezuelan national holding a T&T ID card.
Ramdeen said UNC expects when its concerns are raised, the EBC will fulfil its constitutional mandate and "pick up the shortfall" in the electoral process.
Ramdeen said if the EBC feels Parliamentary oversight will be needed in the process, the UNC would "support anything" to ensure more free and fair polls. He said UNC's agenda includes compiling its policy position concerning any changes to the EBC. But he said any changes must be carefully done and properly rationalised and wasn't something to rush into.