PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC—The Trinidad and Tobago Postal Company (TTPOST) on Friday stated it had referred to the police a “deceptive” video circulating on social media claiming that ballot playing cards for the April 28 normal elections had been “scattered on what seems to be a sidewalk.”
In an announcement, TTPOST stated that the video “falsely” claims that the ballot playing cards had been discarded by TTPOST supply personnel.
“Following a radical inner overview, TTPOST confirms that its employees didn’t discard the playing cards. The Company believes this content material was intentionally created to misinform the general public and erode belief within the postal system throughout a crucial electoral interval”.
It stated that it has “formally requested that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) examine the origins and intent of the video and decide whether or not any offenses have been dedicated underneath the legal guidelines of Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Company emphasizes that it maintains strict protocols for the safe supply of all mail, particularly electoral ballot playing cards. Every merchandise is logged, tracked, and delivered by designated officers underneath shut supervision. Any deviation from the process is met with speedy disciplinary motion, as much as and together with dismissal,” TTPOST stated.
“What’s believed to be a deliberate try to break TTPOST’s credibility and repute of its hard-working workers is deeply regarding. The Company stays dedicated to transparency, accountability, and the continued supply of trusted service to the individuals of Trinidad and Tobago,” it added.
Earlier this week, appearing Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin vowed that legislation enforcement would take a troublesome stance in opposition to any makes an attempt to disrupt the elections.
“We’re placing everybody on discover, together with the political events, and any transfer to disrupt the elections might be handled firmly,” he stated, including, “Anybody that seeks to interrupt the legislation as pertains to the elections or something coping with the offenses underneath the elections, we’re going to cope with that decisively.”
He stated that the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Power (TTDF) might be helping the TTPS to make sure that no felony actions happen to disrupt the electoral course of within the twin island nation.
“We’re sending this warning throughout to political events. This isn’t the place we select one. That is all events. We’re searching for to keep up a stage of decorum when it comes to how we cope with one another as elections are approaching, and on the similar time, we need to be certain that we will no less than stay with one another even after the elections,” he added.
The police additionally warned that voter intimidation and thuggery on election day are arrestable offenses and won’t be tolerated.
The TTPS’ Media Ambassador, ASP Owie Russell, stated there might be a heavy police presence throughout the nation on Monday to make sure there are not any main incidents or disruptions in order that voters can train their franchise in a free, truthful, and protected setting.
He’s warning all political get together supporters and activists in opposition to participating in violence.
“There might be most patrols. Any wanton conduct, menace, thuggery, or something that desires to disrupt this normal election might be taken very critically. If individuals have it of their minds or their intentions to (trigger disruptions) … I’ll advise you instantly to get them out your head,” Russel stated, reminding residents of a number of offenses that can lead to them being arrested and charged.
“It’s an offense for individuals to go and vote with tee-shirts and banners that bear the insignias of any of those [political] events. And it’s an offense for individuals to congregate inside 100 yards of a polling station on polling day,” he added.
100 sixty-one candidates representing 17 political events and three independents are contesting the election Prime Minister Stuart Younger referred to as lower than 4 months earlier than the second anniversary of the incumbent Individuals’s Nationwide Motion (PNM) ‘s 2025 electoral victory.
Because it has been on previous events, the get together’s most important problem will come from the principle opposition, the United Nationwide Congress (UNC), which has allied with a number of smaller events and commerce unions to contest the 41 seats within the election.
