PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Elections and Boundaries Fee (EBC) Tuesday sought to make clear its place on the number of returning officers, as Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley described as “completely unacceptable” solutions by a senior EBC official that returning officers will probably be requested to declare their celebration allegiance and membership earlier than working in polling stations.
In a press release, the EBC mentioned that in a workshop on “Enhancing Moral and Efficient Protection” on Tuesday, “EBC chairman Mark Ramkerrysingh addressed a query about potential political affiliations of returning officers.
“The EBC has obtained allegations from varied political events about Returning Officers being members of political events. To handle these issues and safeguard the integrity of the electoral course of, the Fee sought authorized recommendation on requiring candidates for the place of Returning Officers to declare whether or not they’re a member of a political celebration”.
The EBC mentioned that the authorized opinion confirmed that such an inquiry” is each advisable and lawful” and that it “distinguishes between declaring whether or not one is a member of a political celebration and disclosing voting preferences, which is protected by the precept of secret poll.
“Membership in a political celebration implies a stage of allegiance or affiliation that might doubtlessly create the notion of bias or obvious bias,” the EBC mentioned.
“The EBC emphasizes its dedication to impartiality and transparency within the electoral course of. Requiring candidates to declare their membership is a proactive step to mitigate potential battle within the electoral course of.”
The EBC mentioned it want to “make clear that current media stories suggesting that the EBC is asking Returning Officers to declare their political allegiance are deceptive and inaccurate.
‘The main focus stays on making certain that the electoral course of is free, truthful and credible,” it added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Rowley, in a press release posted on his Fb web page, mentioned that the EBC’s place of questioning EBC employees about their vote is “completely unacceptable.
“The vote on this nation is secret, and no individual in public employment should be pressured to disclose how she or he voted or intends to vote,” Rowley mentioned.
Rowley, additionally the political chief of the ruling Folks’s Nationwide Motion (PNM), mentioned, “Returning officers are to not adjust to this unusual and disturbing growth on the EBC.
“The PNM, which has not been consulted on this matter, is resolutely against this pointless and presumably unlawful motion,” Rowley mentioned, asking, “The place did this come from?”
Opposition Chief and chief of the principle opposition United Nationwide Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad Bissessar, who additionally expressed issues in regards to the report, informed reporters she wants extra data earlier than making a whole assertion.
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