Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has written to CARICOM and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to request Election Observers to Monitor Local Government Elections.
"There must be transparency, fairness and integrity in the 2023 Local Government elections, and the United National Congress maintains that international election observers are needed to scrutinise the August 14th poll," she said.
In a media release, Mrs Persad Bissessar said as Political Leader of the UNC and Leader of the Opposition, she has written to the Secretaries-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and CARICOM asking both organisations to send observer teams to Trinidad and Tobago to monitor the local government elections.
"Elections are a cornerstone of our democratic process and must be free and fair, and free from fear. Given that the PNM and EBC have a history of questionable behaviour in elections in Trinidad and Tobago, the UNC is of the firm view that election observers are needed to scrutinise the process and serve as a check-and-balance mechanism. The presence of observers will also boost public confidence and trust in the process," she said.
She said these local government elections are important and must reflect the will of the people. "Given the PNM Government’s refusal to invite observers, I appealed directly to CARICOM and the CPA to send observers to ensure that the upcoming Local Government Elections on 14 August 2023 are free, fair and free from fear," she said.
Last month Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said he will not entertain the Opposition Leader’s request for election observers.
“We are going into a Local Government Election, we’ve had that over and over and over, and there’s one due in a few weeks. Some of our colleagues are telling me, "I must invite foreigners to come and observe our local government election, no!” Dr Rowley said.
