The United National Congress (UNC) is intensifying its call for the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to be under closer scrutiny, as it says there is a need for a Commission of Enquiry into the agency’s operations.
During a media briefing at the UNC’s office along Charles Street, Port-of-Spain on Thursday, attorney Darrell Allahar complained of continued alleged irregularities in the process leading up to this year’s General Election and a need to reform the electoral system.
“We have just told the Commonwealth Observer team that in light of all that has transpired so far, the UNC is of the very strong view that immediately after the General Election there ought to be established a Commission of Enquiry into the EBC.”
Allahar said a UNC team had presented a dossier containing its concerns about the EBC to the Commonwealth observer group earlier in the day and that the Commission on Enquiry was necessary to ensure the integrity of the country’s democracy.
“Also the conduct of all the election officials in respect to the management and conduct of all the elections with a view to determining if persons should be prosecuted for misbehaviour in public office.”
In 2002 a Commission of Enquiry into the Elections and Boundaries Commission was established to investigate concerns regarding the accuracy and reliability of the Voters List used in the December 11, 2000 General Elections.
The enquiry aimed to address public apprehensions about the integrity of the electoral process and to ensure that the EBC’s operations aligned with democratic principles.
The commission’s findings highlighted significant issues in the preparation and maintenance of the voter list.
It identified duplicate registrations, outdated information, and discrepancies between the list and actual voter turnout. These findings raised questions about the EBC’s capacity to manage voter data effectively and to conduct free and fair elections.
In response to these findings, the commission recommended a comprehensive overhaul of the voter registration system. Allahar said he flagged the authority’s failure to implement the necessary recommendations.
“The EBC is not beyond scrutiny and those commissions of enquires often get to the bottom of things. After elections, people forget these things and move on with their lives and it rears its ugly head at elections again. We’ve reminded the observer group of recommendations made in 2015 to improve the system, 10 years now have passed and the EBC has not implemented those.”
Earlier this week the EBC rejected allegations that it was colluding with the People’s National Movement to rig the upcoming General Election.
Meanwhile, UNC member Wade Mark also advised acting Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin to not interfere in the integrity of the electoral system.
Earlier this week, Benjamin stopped short of divulging details which he said pointed to an alleged plot to disrupt the polls. However, Mark questioned whether the proposed efforts to bolster safety can deliberately disrupt the voting process.
“Junior Benjamin, you are the acting Commissioner of Police, we hope that what you are doing is not designed to frustrate the people from exercising their franchise. We hope the acting Police Commissioner is not in collusion with the PNM to frustrate the will of the people in exercising their rights.”