By Faith Edwards

OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling on the government to provide an update on the presence of international observers for the general elections of April 28, 2025.

Speaking at the United National Congress Labour Town Hall, Straight Talk from Couva South on Thursday night, she said, “You would recall I had written to the former prime minister Rowley, about election observers. Then I wrote to the incoming one-day prime minister and asked him what’s happening with election observers and the next day he responded, they told us CARICOM is coming, they told us Carter Center is coming, and I think OAS, Commonwealth observers.” 

Paid political ad

However, she questioned whether any of the observer groups had arrived in Trinidad and Tobago, stating, “We are in the middle of an election season. I’m calling on the government to tell us what is the status with respect to the election observers.” 

Persad-Bissessar also said that a UNC member met with the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) on Monday, but the EBC could not provide any information about the observers. 

Persad-Bissessar requested the attendance of independent international election observers for the April 28 general election in a letter dated March 19, which was addressed to prime minister Young. In her letter, she expressed concerns about the transparency of the electoral process and the impartiality of the EBC, urging the Prime Minister to invite neutral observers to ensure a free and fair election. 

On September 16, 2024, Persad-Bissessar had written to then Dr Rowley with a similar request, which was met with a dismissive response.