Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission Norbert Masson says the 2010 general election has come like a thief in the night.
Masson was speaking yesterday at the distribution of writs of election to returning EBC officers at Kampo Restaurant, Chaguanas. He said: "Some of you may remember the foreboding words of the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago many years ago when in referring to a pending parliamentary election said 'it will come like a thief in the night.' "No truer words could be said of the general election 2010, and the jolting reminder that we in the Elections and Boundaries Commission must always be in a state preparedness, 'to be ready like Freddie' as the saying goes." Masson said when he addressed returning officers at the distribution of writs of the 2007 general election, he referenced the revolving-ballot scam associated with special voting.
He said in response EBC took action to modify the procedure of special voting, which entailed the avoidance of mailing special ballot papers. Masson said the EBC received a draft of new rules. However, he said, due to the snap election they could not be put into effect. He reminded staff doing training, "to pay particular attention to the fact that since in the existing arrangement the ballot papers would have been marked with the initial letters of the returning officers who issued them in the first place, it behoves the election officer in the charge of the ballot box." Masson said to the returning officers the EBC was aware of the "enormity of the task you have undertaken to perform."
He reminded them of the part they played in upholding democracy in T&T.
Masson said: "Be strengthened by the realisation that you constitute, as a group, one of the main pillars, one of the principal guardians of our democracy." He closed his address saying: "I end by calling on all of you to affirm your loyalty to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and to justify your appointment to the high office of returning officer.