As the number of COVID-19 cases via community spread continue to rise, there are more calls for President Weekes to use her office to ensure postponement of the General Election, scheduled for Monday 10 August 2020.
The latest call comes from environmental lobby group, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS), who has written to Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes on the matter.
In a letter signed by Corporate Secretary, Gary Aboud, FFOS is urging President Weekes to postpone the election, citing the experience of other regional countries who saw increases in their COVID-19 cases, following national elections.
The full text of the FFOS’ correspondence to the President, follows…
Dear President Weekes,
Re: REQUESTING POSTPONEMENT OF THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION
We are concerned for the health and safety of the public of Trinidad and Tobago with the upcoming 2020 General Election. We fear we may face the same fate as Suriname.
The Surinamese Government held their General Election on the 25 May, 2020. Before their election, the number of Covid-19 victims were minimal with only eleven confirmed cases. However, after their election the number of positive cases increased at an exponential rate and are currently at one thousand six hundred and seven cases.
Our General Election is scheduled for the 10" of August 2020 and without any specific legislation to command proper hygiene practices in public places and public gatherings, we are concerned that the Covid-19 will accelerate. It will be very difficult to maintain social distancing on election day plus there are too many risks involved in dipping one's finger into a shared pot of ink.
We urge you with the greatest of respect to consider a mere postponement of the election for thirty, sixty or possibly 90 days which is well within the time frame for our election. We are sure that every right thinking citizen will agree that public safety and the protection of life must always be our first consideration.
We thank you for considering our message and remain,
Sincerely and respectfully,
Gary Aboud
Corporate Secretary