00:00Madam Speaker, notwithstanding the best efforts of our colleagues on the other side, Trinidad
00:07and Tobago preserves its proud record in conducting free and fair elections.
00:17Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has responded to a question from Oropuch East MP Dr. Rudal
00:21Munilal on behalf of the opposition during the Prime Minister's questions segment in
00:26the House of Representatives on Friday.
00:28Will the Prime Minister indicate whether any steps will be taken in a timely manner to
00:33invite international and regional observer teams to monitor the upcoming general elections
00:39in Trinidad and Tobago?
00:41Opposition leader Kamala Prasad Bissessa wrote a letter to the Prime Minister dated September
00:4516th requesting that the government invite independent, international and regional election
00:50observers for the next general election in Trinidad and Tobago due next year, 2025.
00:57Elections that are anticipated to be held sometime in the not-too-distant future and
01:03can be held as late as November of 2025 is not a matter that is before us at this time.
01:12Notwithstanding the best efforts of our colleagues, and in the event of any consideration for
01:17the invitation of our own personal agency from the outside, that will come in the appropriate
01:25time when it is reasonable to have that as a priority.
01:31Dr. Munilal posed a follow-up question.
01:34Would the Prime Minister agree that an invitation to the known international and regional observer
01:40missions would in fact enhance our democratic credentials in the eyes of the region and
01:47the wider world?
01:50Not as much, Madam Speaker, as the successful defence of accusations from the other side
01:55where since 2020 our colleagues owe the PNM millions of dollars and will not pay for matters
02:00in the court that they keep making allegations about election conduct and on every single
02:06instance, Madam Speaker, the elections have been formed to be free and fair and have nothing
02:10to do with the fairs that they are trying to create about our election processes.
02:15The Prime Minister then made a direct reference to the Elections and Boundaries Commission,
02:20the EBC.
02:21Madam Speaker, I would advise my colleagues on the other side that if you are really genuinely
02:25interested in our image and reputation in elections, you will stop battering the process
02:31and the EBC.
02:35MP Munilal said he did not understand the link the Prime Minister made with his response
02:39to the concerns raised by the opposition.
02:43Jule Brown, TV6 News.
Comments