By Sue-Ann Wayow
INTERNATIONAL election observers are expected to be in Trinidad and Tobago for nine days before, during and after the General Election date of April 28.
This was confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs in a media release on Saturday.
The ministry stated that observer missions from both Caricom and the Commonwealth will monitor the general election.
The ministry stated, “The Observer Missions are expected to commence and complete the exercise in Trinidad and Tobago during the period the April 21 to April 30 2025. They are also expected to share their observations and make recommendations for future electoral processes with relevant authorities, stakeholders and members of the public.”
The ministry also stated that official correspondence was sent to the Chief Election Officer informing of the presence of the Missions and of the request from the CARICOM Secretariat for meetings with key stakeholders.
Details with regard to the Commonwealth’s team are being addressed, the ministry stated.
The release stated, “Facilitation of the Electoral Observer Missions is in keeping with international best practice and reflects Trinidad and Tobago’s longstanding commitment and adherence to democracy and the rule of law, to the promotion and protection of human rights and the country’s universally-acknowledged tradition of free and fair elections.”
The announcement comes two days after political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad-Bissessar queried when the election observers will be in Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking at a UNC townhall meeting in Couva, Persad-Bissessar asked of Prime Minister Stuart Young, “Please give the country an update on the status of the election observers.”
The Commonwealth Secretariat confirmed its deployment of its mission via letter dated March 25, following a letter from the prime minister dated March 19.
“Trinidad and Tobago has a history of commitment to free and fair elections and has benefited in the past from the presence and contribution of external election observers, and I recognise the competence of such Commonwealth observers in supporting member states as they conduct their electoral processes,” Young stated in the letter to Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland, KC.
Back in December, former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley requested of Secretary-General of CARICOM Dr Carla Barnett that a CARICOM electoral observer mission be present in Trinidad and Tobago for the election.
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In a letter dated January 13, Dr Barnett stated, “ The CARICOM Secretariat is fully prepared to undertake the necessary administrative arrangements for the deployment of a CARICOM election observer team to Trinidad and Tobago whenever we receive further information regarding the scheduling of the elections.”
A third observer group, the Carter Center in the US, was also invited by Young. To date, the Carter Center has not confirmed its participation.
