By Sue-Ann Wayow
EIGHT HUNDRED people are in quarantine in Tobago and therefore cannot vote in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections today.
This was revealed by the Medical Chief of Staff of the Scarborough General Hospital Dr Victor Wheeler who was speaking on TV6’s Morning Edition on Monday.
He did not say if all 800 were eligible to vote in the elections.
And voters are being reminded that if in quarantine, they can still be charged for breach if they venture out to vote.
Voters are expected to cast their ballots between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm on the island.
This election, similar to the August 2020 general election and the THA election that was held in January. It is being held against the background of the existing Covid-19 pandemic with surging numbers of new infections and deaths due to the virus on a daily basis and is also being held under existing Public Health Regulations.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in a press release on Sunday stated that it will play an active role in the process by preserving law and order at the various polling stations throughout Tobago.
The police is also reminding all voters to practice the three W’s (Wear your mask, Wash your hands and Watch your distance) when voting especially in particular, social distancing in the lines leading to, and within, the various polling stations.
The TTPS stated, “We are aware that many persons have been issued with quarantine orders by officials of the Ministry of Health to self-quarantine during the elections and may wish to disregard these directives and visit polling stations in order to cast their votes.
“We are also aware that the public is being advised that persons who are subject to these directives can disregard them by visiting various polling stations to cast their votes and will be facilitated by the police officers on duty at those polling stations. In this regard, we are strongly advising persons who are subject to quarantine orders by officials of the Ministry of Health to self-quarantine, to refrain from visiting any polling station to cast their vote.”
The TTPS added, “We are also informing members of the public that police officers are not authorised to facilitate any breaches of the public health regulations and anyone found breaching the said regulations will be prosecuted. Anyone caught advising, assisting, counselling or procuring persons to disregard orders to self-quarantine, will be prosecuted for such conduct.”
